April 2016
Sex offender has appeal over sentence turned down
A sex offender from Moulton, who claimed he mistook his teenage victim’s breast for a pillow, deserves every day of his ‘severe’ jail term, top judges have ruled.
David Gamble (52) was caged for three-and-a-half years at Lincoln Crown Court on September 21 last year after he was convicted of illegal sexual activity with the girl.
Gamble, of Church Lane, was in his 40s when he molested the teenage girl’s breasts, Judge Eleri Rees told London’s Appeal Court.
He claimed that it was all a mistake in which he ‘dribbled into what he thought was a pillow’ but ‘in fact was a breast’.
He was disbelieved by the jury but Gamble’s lawyers today (Thursday) argued his jail term was far too tough.
They pointed to his previous good character and said that no sexual grooming was involved.
Gamble’s crime was ‘short-lived’ – all over in five seconds – and had been a ‘moment of madness’, they argued.
But, dismissing the appeal, Judge Rees said: “The sentence, although severe, was within the permissible range.”
The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Carr, concluded: “We do not agree that it was manifestly excessive.”
