July 2011 Man with ‘dominant personality’ admits sexual activity with ‘vulnerable’ teenager A LORRY driver who sexually corrupted a vulnerable teenage girl “leaving very, very deep scars” has been jailed at Northampton Crown Court. Ken Garrett, 47, was jailed for 40 months having pleaded guilty to five sexual activity offences, prior to standing trial last month. He was ultimately acquitted of more serious allegations of indecency and sexual activity with a child. It had been alleged the lorry driver waged a campaign of sexual abuse, said to have started when his victim was under 16. But the jury accepted his account that sex only started after her 17th birthday, which he accepted and so pleaded guilty to the relevant offences. John Lloyd-Jones, prosecuting, said the offences had left his teenage victim, who cannot be named, terrified. He said: “She describes living her life feeling angry and upset, suffering sleepless nights and panic attacks. “She said she felt the whole process of going to court was an ordeal. “She is very scared of this defendant as he has threatened her and she is frightened of what he might do to her when released. She describes her confidence and self esteem as very low.” Judge Charles Wide QC said it was clear Garrett, of West Oval, Kings Heath, Northampton, was a sex offender with “an extremely dominant personality.” He added: “The sentence I pass will be completely loyal to the jury’s verdicts but as I said after the jury delivered their verdicts, I have taken the view she was very vulnerable. As well as perverted sexual practices, one of the features of this conduct was the use of drugs and excessive use of alcohol.” Garrett was jailed for three years and four months, will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and is banned from ever making contact with his victim.