A former English Football League assistant referee who targeted teenage girls online has been sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison. Gareth Viccars, 47, from Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to 16 charges including sexual activity with a child, grooming, and sexual communications with a child. The offences involved three girls aged 15 between November 2021 and October 2024.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Caroline English said Viccars had “preyed upon young women that were vulnerable” and noted a lack of acknowledgment from him that he had a “sexual interest in female children”. The court heard Viccars met his victims on Snapchat, lying to one that he was a teacher, and referred to himself as “daddy” and “teacher” in voice notes.
Prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC said Viccars told one victim that using WhatsApp was “too risky”. He abused another victim over several years, taking her to football matches and claiming he was “mentoring” her. A scrapbook the teenager made of their “relationship” was used as evidence.
In victim impact statements read to the court, one girl said Viccars had been her “world” and that she trusted him “completely”. Another said she blamed herself and suffered nightmares and flashbacks. Judge English urged the victims not to shoulder any responsibility, saying it “belongs entirely with Mr Viccars”.
Viccars was suspended by Professional Game Match Officials as soon as the allegations emerged and has since been removed from their list. The Metropolitan Police believe there may be other victims, as Viccars had been “spamming hundreds of girls on Snapchat”.
