A paedophile English Football League assistant referee may have preyed on hundreds of teenage girls, police said as he was jailed for a string of child sex offences.
Gareth Viccars, 47 – who called himself “Daddy” - met his victims online through messaging app Snapchat.
He randomly added their profiles suggested to him by the “mutual friends” feature before following up with a message saying, “Sorry I think I have the wrong person”.
Once in conversation, Viccars would build trust with the girls by pretending that he was a teacher.
He suggested meeting up with the young women who were then pressured into sex in Romford, Essex, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and another address in Northamptonshire.
The pervert referred to one as as his “little girl” in a sick voice note recovered by police.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, Viccars, of Shackleton Place, Oldbrook, Milton Keynes, was jailed for 14 years with a further three on extended licence.
He pleaded guilty to 16 counts, including sexual communications with a child, grooming, and inciting or engaging in sexual activity. Viccars was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
The offences between November 2021 and October last year involved three girls aged 15.
Following Viccars’ sentencing, detectives appealed for any other potential victim-survivors to come forward.
Scotland Yard suspect there could be hundreds of girls who Viccars committed offences against, due to his random and widespread messaging.
Despite using an alias and routinely changing his social media accounts, his methods and lies about his life are recognisable and consistent throughout.
Detective Chief Inspector Ross Morrell, who led the Metropolitan Police’s investigation, said: “Viccar’s offending is shocking.
“We are appealing today for anyone who believes they or their children may be a victim of Viccars to come forward. We believe there may be hundreds of further victims who have not yet reported to the police.
“Any further victims are entitled to receive specialist support and guidance, not only from the police but independent charities and services.”
Addressing the referee, Judge Caroline English said despite his guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, there remained a lack of acknowledgement from the defendant that he had “a sexual interest in female children”.
This was clear from the contents of messages sent to his victims and a statement from an ex-girlfriend, who he asked to dress up in school uniform.
Viccars, who appeared in the dock wearing a dark green sweatshirt, nodded as the judge read out her sentencing remarks.
He was an assistant referee at the time of offending and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the organisation responsible for managing all Premier League and EFL matches across England. PGMOL said he was suspended “as soon as the allegations came to light”.
Viccars was not considered for appointments after his initial suspension and PGMOL has since removed him from the organisation’s list, it is understood.
Prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC read out the transcript of a voicenote sent by Viccars to one of his victims, where he referred to her as “little girl” and himself as “daddy” and “teacher”.
Ms Newell added of the victim: “She says effectively that she was lonely and she just wanted someone to talk to.
“He, it seems, was aware of that and abused it – turning the communication sexual.”
The court heard he had abused another of his victims over a period of several years, had taken her to football matches and told others he was “mentoring” her.
A scrapbook chronicling the two’s “relationship” that was made by the teenager and given to Viccars was handed to police and formed part of the evidence against him, the prosecutor said.
In court, Viccars watched the victim read out an impact statement during which she said he had been her “world” and that she had trusted him “completely” for almost three years.
Addressing her abuser, she said he had won her over with “kind words” and “attention” and had isolated her “in plain sight”.
“Now I know what you really wanted was someone young enough to manipulate,” she said.
Another statement was read out by the prosecutor on behalf of a different victim, in which she said she blamed herself for Viccars’ actions, which had broken her trust in adults.
She said: “I struggle to sleep, I have had nightmares.
“I would have nightmares about what happened – it kept replaying in my head.
“When I was awake, I would have flashbacks. I kept reliving it again and again.”
She added: “I’m unsure of myself and I feel I have lost my self-esteem.
“I feel I am never going to find happiness.”
The victim said Viccars’ abuse had also affected her schoolwork and how she viewed her teachers, as he had initially lied and told her he was a PE teacher.
Addressing the victims, Judge English said: “You must not allow your lives to be blighted by seeking to shoulder any responsibility for what took place, that would be wholly wrong.
“You must allow all the responsibility to rest where it belongs and that is entirely with Mr Viccars.”
In mitigation, Laura Blackband, defending, said Viccars acknowledged his behaviour had been “disgraceful”, he had a “difficult upbringing” and struggled with alcohol issues.
Three charges, two of sexual activity with a child and one of engaging in sexual communications with a child, will lie on file, the court previously heard.
Survivors are encouraged to contact police by reporting online or by calling 101.
