Timothy Gardner, a 52-year-old former Dominican priest, has admitted to multiple offenses related to the online exploitation of children. Gardner, who was stripped of his priestly status after previous convictions, pleaded guilty to charges including breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), using false identities online, and aiding or encouraging child sexual assault.
Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14 at Newcastle Crown Court. He is currently in custody, facing charges that include one count of breaching the SHPO, three counts of failing to meet notification requirements, and one count of facilitating the sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
The court heard that in 2022, Gardner used online aliases such as “Matt” and “Family Doctor” on a chat platform to send messages promoting child sexual abuse. He also obstructed police investigations by denying them access to two SD cards, violating the terms of his SHPO. Subsequently, authorities issued him a revised SHPO, further restricting his use of internet-enabled devices.
A report by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) revealed that Gardner’s association with Bishop Robert Byrne granted him “unrestricted access” to diocesan premises, posing significant safeguarding risks. Bishop Byrne resigned in December 2022 following criticism for this connection in the CSSA’s June 2023 review.
The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle clarified that Gardner never served as a priest or held any role within the diocese. In a public statement, the diocese condemned Gardner’s actions and emphasized its “zero-tolerance approach to abuse.” The diocese also reaffirmed its commitment to strict safeguarding protocols and full cooperation with law enforcement.
Gardner’s criminal record dates back to 2013 when authorities found over 500 indecent images of children and 5,000 other prohibited images on his computer. In 2014, he received an eight-month suspended sentence and a five-year sexual offenses prevention order, and was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.
The Diocese reiterated its dedication to creating a safe environment, pledging to uphold stringent safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable individuals.
