Twisted pervert Gerard Kendrick, who had a nappy fetish, raped and molested six children over two decades

Gerard Kendrick, 32, of Barmouth Way, Vauxhall

A serial rapist with a nappy fetish was caught after taking horrific photos of a victim and sending them to another paedophile.

Gerard Kendrick raped and molested six children over two decades – beginning when he himself was aged just 10-years-old.

The twisted pervert, 32, forced little boys and girls to wear nappies while carrying out sickening attacks on traumatised victims.

But his disturbing crimes only came to light last year, after police seized indecent images from a known sex offender in Blackburn.

Using GPS technology, officers discovered some of the photographs were created at Kendrick’s Barmouth Way, Vauxhall home.

They later found the stash included pictures Kendrick took of him raping a little boy, who he made wear a nappy, in 2017 and 2018.

When he was arrested over the find last year, five more victims – now adults – came forward to report he had also ruined their lives.

Kendrick was today jailed for 18 years, with an extended six years on licence, for the “disgraceful catalogue of sexual offending”.

Judge Robert Warnock said: “You have stolen the innocence and enjoyment of their childhood and scarred and impaired their adult life.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard police recovered hundreds of indecent images from the computer of convicted paedophile Trevor Howard.

The 60-year-old, of no fixed address but formerly of Whalley Old Road, Blackburn, was jailed for 18 months in November last year.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said: “As part of the development of investigatory techniques in relation to the production and distribution of indecent images of children, the police are now able to subject recovered images to a programme, which is capable of revealing a GPS location, and date and time when a particular image was created.”

How he was caught

The innovative software identified that images had been sent from GPS locations in Liverpool, including Stanley Dock and Kendrick’s nearby home.

Merseyside Police examined his Facebook account, which led them to contact a couple, whose child they believed had been abused and pictured.
They visited the pair, who confirmed it was their child and said they recognised Kendrick’s bathroom in one picture, which led to his house being raided.

Share a ‘nappy fetish’

Kendrick arrived home mid-search and claimed: “I may have took one or two photos when he was in a nappy, but I didn’t know it was wrong.

“I know my computer was hacked and I had to wipe it clean.”

Mr Gibson said: “The relevance of the nappy is that Howard and the defendant share an interest in a nappy fetish, and a large number of the indecent images involved children in nappies.”

They recovered 3,416 indecent images, including 668 Category A pictures – the most serious category – from Kendrick’s computer.

Mr Gibson said Kendrick, who also had revolting extreme porn, must have distributed the pictures of the boy directly or indirectly to Howard via a third party of sharing site.

The court heard his five other victims were aged between six and 12 when Kendrick, then aged between 10 and 21, abused them in the 1990s and 2000s.

One boy recalled how Kendrick had once been violent, dragged him around and thrown him against a bed, before raping him.

A girl said he pushed her onto a bed, held her arms and covered her mouth when molesting her, hit and threatened her, and repeatedly attempted to rape her.

Mr Gibson said: “On occasions the defendant’s nappy fetish came to the fore – he would make her wear a nappy and walk around the room.”

A second girl told police he asked her to play the game of “being the baby”, made her lie on a bed, undressed and abused her.

Kendrick molested a third girl while another boy was present, making the boy face the wall, before he abused the boy while she faced the wall.

Tears in court

He admitted 16 sexual offences including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, and making and distributing indecent photos of children.

Victims and their supporters sitting in the public gallery cried as the abuse was described, with one upset man leaving the courtroom.

Some observers snorted in derision when it was said Kendrick – sitting stone-faced and staring straight ahead – claimed to be sorry.

Michael O’Brien, defending, said: “The defendant understands that there is very little that can be said on his behalf.

“He maintains the account that he gave to the author of the pre-sentence report, namely that he is disgusted by what he’s done, and maintains his desire to apologise to his victims for the harm and distress, and take advantage of any treatment programmes that may be offered to him.”

Judge Warnock said Kendrick’s “sexual abuse and degradation” of his victims represented “a disgraceful catalogue of sexual offending”.

He said: “You sexually abused your victims and downloaded indecent images entirely for your own selfish and sexual enjoyment.

“You did not have any consideration whatsoever for the welfare or innocence of these children.

“Unwilling” to address what he had done.

“It seems that you regarded them as objects available to satiate your own fetishes and perversions.”

A psychologist found Kendrick – who claimed he too was a victim of sexual abuse – was “unwilling and unable” to address what he had done.

The doctor concluded he was “an active participant in a sexual fetish”, while a probation officer found he had “little or no insight” into his crimes.

“Dangerous offender”

Judge Warnock said: “I am unsure as to the genuineness of the remorse expressed.”

He said Kendrick was a high risk of sexual harm to children and a “dangerous offender”, who must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

This type of extended sentence means the paedophile will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term – 12 years – behind bars.

He will only be freed before the end of the 18 years if a parole board decides it is safe and will be on licence until he is 56.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Sergeant Richie Shillito, who investigated the incident, said: “Gerard Kendrick subjected his six victims to vicious and violent sexual assaults for his own sexual gratification.

“I would like to praise the bravery and courage of the victims for the strength they have shown in speaking to us about the ordeal they were put through by Kendrick.

Victims praised

“Their support of our investigation has led to a dangerous sexual predator being sent to jail for a long period of time, and to other children being protected from him.

“The victims and their families were supported by specially trained officers from Merseyside Polices Unity Team during the course of the investigation and court process.

“Merseyside Police will always listen to victims of sexual violence, whether it is recent or not, and whatever the circumstances. We will treat all victims with sensitivity, compassion and as individuals with individual needs.

“There is a great deal of support and advice out there and we can put measures in place to help victims from the point they make a report to the police right through to the court hearing.

“I would urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted or raped to find it within themselves to tell someone what has happened to them so that they do not continue to suffer in silence.

Liverpool Echo