Man jailed for sex offences against two girls

Gavin Macken sexually touched one victim over a two-year period, police said

A man has been jailed after he incited two girls to engage in sexual activity.

Gavin Macken, 38, was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on 3 December after a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

His offending, which began in 2018, included sexually touching one victim over a two-year period, while inciting another to pose for sexual photographs, Leicestershire Police said.

Macken, of Brookfield Rise in Leicester, was sentenced to eight years during a hearing on Monday.

The force said Macken's offences were disclosed to police by both victims in 2020.

Det Sgt Catherine Smith, who was the investigating officer in the case, said: "Macken preyed on his victims at their most vulnerable times and took photographs for his own sexual gratification.

"He tried to incite one child to take photographs of the other, which ultimately led to them coming forward.

"When the allegations were put to him by police, Macken admitted to taking images of one girl's 'genitalia' but ultimately denied the charges against him."

'Brought to justice'

Det Sgt Smith said Macken denied knowing what the word genitalia was in court and pleaded not guilty, which meant both victims had to give evidence at his trial.

"Macken stole their innocence, and their childhoods," she said.

"Their lives have been paused during the five-month police investigation, and an almost five-year wait for him to be sentenced for his crimes.

"No sentence can accurately reflect the pain that he has caused these girls and their families, but he has been brought to justice, and I hope that they can now begin to move forwards with the rest of their lives."

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