A Burnham-On-Sea man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to rape and several other non-recent sexual offences against children.<\/p>\n
Philip Garrett, 70, of Berrow, Burnham-On-Sea, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Magistrates\u2019 Court, to a total of 19 offences on Thursday 5th March.<\/p>\n
Garrett, who was convicted at Taunton Crown Court on Friday 6th February, is now on the Registered Sex Offenders\u2019 Register for life, is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been handed an indefinite restraining order not to contact his victims.<\/p>\n
He was sentenced to multiple serious offences.<\/p>\n
One of two victims reported the offences to an adult who then alerted the police before a thorough investigation was carried out.<\/p>\n
Both victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were offered access to safeguarding and support services since the offences were disclosed and have been regularly updated throughout the investigation.<\/p>\n
Both victims detailed the psychological harm Garrett\u2019s offending has had on them in personal statements which they both bravely read in court.<\/p>\n
One of his victims stated: \u201cYou have a name, but to me you will always be called the abuser, the monster who stole my childhood without any thought on how my life would change.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never understood what I had done to deserve such horrendous torture, the monster who made me scared to speak up in fear I wouldn\u2019t be believed. I was subjected to things a child should never be exposed to \u2013 my innocence, my dignity and my choices were all stolen by you.\u201d<\/p>\n
His other victim said: \u201cI feel like my education has been affected due to the abuse. I couldn\u2019t really concentrate at school and would think about what you were doing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I will ever enjoy being intimate with someone, you have taken that away from me. I feel like I am never able to experience the usual caring and loving relationships people my age look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
DC Michelle Hewitt, investigating officer and a member of the specialist child protection team, said: \u201cBoth victims in this case suffered abuse over a prolonged period, and have therefore shown tremendous strength and bravery throughout the investigation and court process, and Garrett is now serving a lengthy sentence in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the bravery of the victims speaking out about the abhorrent abuse they were subjected to, and supporting this thorough investigation, convictions like this would not be possible and justice has now been served.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope this conviction sends an important message that any acts of violence towards women and girls will never be tolerated and every victim deserves to be heard and supported, no matter how long ago the offending was committed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent, can self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24\/7 365 days a year.\u00a0Visit their website<\/a>\u00a0or call 0117 342 6999.<\/p>\n