It was in early Spring of 2015 that I headed from London to the American West Coast to spend a week with Gary. He was the first of several self-identifying, non-offending paedophiles living in the US who I had arranged to stay with and photograph as part of an attempt to understand and to document what it means to find oneself attracted to minors.
Gary is married to recently retired medical professional, Tabitha. The couple have been married for almost 11 years, but Gary came out to her as being sexually attracted to young girls six years ago. "As to how I reacted when I learned that Gary was sexually attracted to young girls, I believe it was a slow dawning rather than an in-the-face, shocking revelation," says Tabitha. "I believe him to be trustworthy and to have not done anything to be ashamed of. Many have secret sins or behaviours to which they are prone; but without the action, it becomes a non-starter," she says. All photos by the author.