Paedophile jailed for 'abhorrent' child sex abuse

A "monster" has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to the rape and "horrendous torture" of two young girls.

Philip Garrett, 70, of Berrow near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 5 March for a total of 19 child sex offences.

He will also be added to the Sex Offenders' Register for life, is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been handed an indefinite restraining order.

One of his victims told the court: "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 court heard the offences took place over a prolonged period of time.

One of his two victims reported the offences to an adult, who then alerted the police before a thorough investigation was carried out.

During a victim impact statement read out in court, one of his victims stated: "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."

His 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."

DC Michelle Hewitt, investigating officer and a member of the specialist child protection team at Avon and Somerset Police, commended the victims' "tremendous strength and bravery".

"Without 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," she said.

"We 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."

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, police added.

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