A Morecambe man has been sentenced to prison for a series of historical child sexual offences after admitting to the abuse of a young girl over a period spanning more than a decade.
Gary Wanless, 50, of Christie Avenue, Morecambe, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday 13th June, where he pleaded guilty to two separate charges: assault of a girl under 13 by penetration and non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.
The court heard that the first offence took place in the Morecambe area when the victim was just 3 to 4 years old. Years later, when the same victim was 14 years old, Wanless committed a second offence, involving non-penetrative sexual activity.
Following his guilty plea, Wanless was sentenced to eight years in prison, with an additional year on an extended licence. He was also made the subject of a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a 15-year restraining order to protect the victim and prevent future offending. Furthermore, he has been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Detective Constable Kirsten Bell, from Lancashire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, praised the courage of the survivor and underlined the force’s commitment to securing justice in such cases.
“Gary has a clear sexual interest in children and I welcome the custodial sentence handed down to him,” DC Bell said. “The victim in this case has been incredibly brave throughout the whole process.
“If you have been a victim of any sexual offence, please know that you will be listened to, your report will be investigated, and we will do everything we can to get you justice.”
Lancashire Police continues to urge any victims of sexual abuse—no matter how long ago the offence took place—to come forward. Support is available, and every report will be treated with sensitivity and seriousness.
Victims can contact police on 101 or report incidents online via the Lancashire Police website.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual abuse, you can also seek support from national organisations such as the NSPCC, Rape Crisis England & Wales, or Victim Support.