Mental health crisis worker guilty of sexually grooming vulnerable teen


A mental health worker from South Devon has admitted sexually grooming a 15-year-old girl.

Givemore Gezi, 40,of Maidenway Road, Paignton had denied 10 charges relating to his conduct as a crisis worker with young people and was standing trial at Exeter Crown Court

But on Tuesday, after hearing the prosecution open the case against him, he decided to change his pleas.

Gezi admitted sexual activity with a child and sexual activity with a person with mental disorder by a care worker.

The trial was told he took advantage of the vulnerable teenager by telling her how ‘special’ she was.

Prosecutor Ms Heather Hope told the jury: “The allegations are of sexual grooming. The defendant, who was a mental health crisis worker, sexually groomed a young girl.

“The prosecution say instead of providing her with help and support he used his position and manipulated her into believing she was special, that she was special to him.”

She said Gezi exerted ’emotional control’ of his vulnerable victim, exploiting her feelings for him.

When the girl’s school found out what had happened and told police, Gezi allegedly tried to pervert the course of justice by telling her to withdraw the accusations.

Gezi’s job brought him into contact with young people with mental health problems. His role was to safeguard children from the type of crime he is now accused of.

Part of the way through the alleged offending he was demoted from his position as team leader for poor timekeeping and incomplete paperwork.
He continued in a lower grade and carried on abusing the girl. He used the girl’s vulnerabilities and distrust of authority for his own sexual advantage.

She believed she could trust him but Gezi was really exploiting her as she did not know any better, Ms Hope said.
Gezi will be sentenced on Wednesday.