A Jehovah’s Witness who carried out a sex attack on an 11-year-old schoolboy yesterday walked free from court.
Anthony Gibbs, 36, climbed into bed with the boy at the home of a fellow churchgoer after being rejected by a woman during a night out.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said the boy’s parents had invited Gibbs back to their home because they knew him through his church activities.

He said, “Gibbs said he had become known to the family because they regularly attended the church.

“But on the night he met them by chance in a pub - they were all their with friends who were Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“He then returned to their home to stay the night.”

Cardiff Crown Court heard Gibbs woke the boy up and the youngster ran to his mother.

Mr Griffiths said, “He said he was frightened of Anthony because he had been feeling him. He told his mother Gibbs had been touching him.”

Gibbs, of Croeserw, near Maesteg, admitted what he had done to police and told them he was feeling lonely.

Mr Griffiths said, “He told officers there seemed to be some temptation. Gibbs told the police, ‘It disgusts me and it has disgusted the congregation’.

“He said, ‘Maybe it’s because lately I haven’t found a girlfriend and was looking for a substitute’.”

“Gibbs said he had been getting on with a girl earlier in the evening and seemed to suggest he was pretending the boy was that girl when he touched him.”

Peter Davies, defending, said, “This was an isolated incident. He has a very lonely background and has now lost everything. He has crucified himself with self-recrimination for what he has done.”

Judge David Aubrey QC sentenced Gibbs to a three-year community rehabilitation order and ordered him to register as a sex offender for five years.