Philip Garrett

Philip Garrett, a 70-year-old man from Berrow near Burnham-on-Sea, was jailed for 27 years following his guilty plea to a series of serious non-recent sexual offences against children. The offences, which spanned several years, involved two victims who were girls under the age of 13 at the time. Garrett's crimes came to light when one of the victims reported the abuse to an adult, prompting a thorough investigation by Avon and Somerset Police.

Garrett was convicted at Taunton Crown Court on 6 February 2026, after which he was sentenced on 5 March 2026 at the same court, sitting at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court. He pleaded guilty to a total of 19 counts, including two counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, multiple counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, sexual assault against a female, assault by penetration, and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. The court heard harrowing personal statements from both victims, detailing the profound psychological harm inflicted by Garrett's actions.

• Two counts of raping a girl under 13
• Two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14
• Two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching
• Two counts of sexual assault against a female
• Assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of the body or a thing
• Assaulting a girl under 13 by touching
• Raping a girl under 13 and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration
• Raping a girl aged 13, 14, or 15
• Assaulting a female 13 and over by penetration with part of the body or a thing
• Causing a female 13 or over to engage in a non-penetrative sexual activity
• Assaulting a female 13 and over by penetration with part of the body or a thing
• Assaulting a girl under 13 by touching
• Three counts of sexual assault against a female

One victim bravely read her statement in court, stating: “You 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. I never understood what I had done to deserve such horrendous torture, the monster who made me scared to speak up in fear I wouldn’t be believed. I was subjected to things a child should never be exposed to – my innocence, my dignity and my choices were all stolen by you.” The other victim added: “I feel like my education has been affected due to the abuse. I couldn’t really concentrate at school and would think about what you were doing to me. I don’t 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.”

In addition to his 27-year custodial sentence, Garrett was placed on the Registered Sex Offenders’ Register for life and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with his victims. DC Michelle Hewitt, the investigating officer from Avon and Somerset Police's specialist child protection team, commended the victims' bravery, noting that their courage enabled the convictions and served justice after a prolonged period of abuse.