He evaded justice for decades before finally being locked up last year
Gavin Lancell, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A serial sexual predator who was jailed for 28 years has had his sentence extended after admitting two more charges against another victim. Gavin Lancell had managed to evade being held to account for his actions many years earlier before finally being brought to justice last year.
In the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, police reviewed his case and investigated further after one of his victims contacted a high-profile police operation that had been set up following allegations made against the former BBC disc jockey and presenter of TV series Jim’ll Fix It.
Lancell, 54, formerly of Bransholme, Hull, denied 20 sexual offences against two children, including rape, having sex with a girl under 13, indecent assault and indecency with a child, between 1992 and 1996, but he was convicted by a jury of all the offences. In July last year, he was jailed for 28 years and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
However, while he was in prison, additional charges were brought against Lancell after a third victim came forward, leading him to plead guilty to a further two offences including indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, and sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
His original sentence has now been extended by a further two years after appearing at Hull Crown Court this week. During the original case, David Godfrey, prosecuting, said that Lancell, previously known as Gavin Eckles, had a “clear sexual fascination” for two young girls and he committed sexual offences against them. One of them spoke out in the mid-1990s but she was “not listened to” and both girls came forward in 1999 and spoke to police.
“Their accounts were recorded on video,” said Mr Godfrey. “Both girls made clear allegations of sexual abuse in 1999 but, at this time, like in 1996, the allegations being made by the girls were not taken further and the defendant was not prosecuted.” One of the girls made attempts in 2012 to contact the police to hold Lancell to account.
A female detective constable told the court that an Op Hydrant programme was set “on the back of the Jimmy Savile scandal inquiry” to look into allegations of historical sexual abuse. It was initially set up to review allegations against “institutions, politicians and celebrities”.
One of the victims was aware of this initiative and she again contacted the police. The case was transferred to Humberside Police for investigation. She and the other victim were again spoken to by police in 2021 and provided further video evidence.
Lancell had been interviewed by the police in 1999 and he made denials but the details had not been transcribed or stored. He was arrested and interviewed in late 2021.
“Allegations of this sort have a habit of bubbling up to the surface,” said Mr Godfrey. “They never go away and, indeed, that’s what happened in 2021.”
Lancell, of Bramham Grove, York, told police: “I am strongly denying it. I am still in shock.” He claimed that he felt “disgusted” because he had “done nothing wrong”. He replied “No” when individual allegations were put to him.
“My story hasn’t changed because it never happened,” he claimed. “I did nothing then and I have still done nothing.” He continued his denials during the trial.
Following the latest sentencing hearing, Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne, of Humberside Police, said: “I would first like to acknowledge the immense courage and perseverance shown by the three women in this case, as it is only with their strength and determination Lancell is now behind bars where he rightly belongs.
“Lancell subjected them to horrific sexual offences, stealing their childhood and innocence, and even forced two of them to relive the pain and trauma he put them through by refusing to admit his guilt and making them endure the gruelling ordeal of a trial last year.
“Their pursuit of justice for the crimes Lancell committed against them I cannot praise or commend them highly enough for, and my sincerest thanks are offered to them for helping us take a sexual predator off our streets.
“I would also like to express heartfelt thanks to the Blue Door Service, who supported the women throughout the investigation and court proceedings, as their compassionate and consistent presence will no doubt have made a difference.
“I would always urge people to please come forward, as this result at court shows that no matter when sexual offences are committed, whether yesterday, last year or decades ago, those who choose to inflict pain and suffering on others are held accountable for their actions, and in Lancell’s case, locked away for the rest of his life.”
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