MIKE GARNETT SHOCKS MANCHESTER RAILWAY COMMUNITY WITH CHILD SEX OFFENCE REVELATION
In a disturbing development that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Mike Garnett, a well-known volunteer at the Ribble Steam Railway near Preston, has admitted to committing a sexual assault against a child.Garnett, aged 27, has been associated with the railway for over four years, during which he was regarded as a dedicated rail enthusiast and a familiar face among the volunteers.
It has now come to light that Garnett failed to disclose his arrest related to the offence to his colleagues at the railway.
This omission allowed him to continue his volunteer duties uninterrupted until he was eventually sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.
The revelation was made after members of the railway organization learned about his legal situation and promptly sent him an email, leading to his suspension from the railway activities.
Garnett resides on Ashton Road in Newton Heath, Manchester.
Following his conviction, he has been ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for a period of five years.
His sentencing included a community order, which requires him to participate in a probation program aimed at monitoring and rehabilitating offenders.
Dave Watkins, who serves as the chairman of the Ribble Steam Railway, expressed his shock and disappointment over the incident.
He stated, “We are gobsmacked.
He will be suspended immediately and will be getting an email.” Watkins clarified that Garnett’s role at the railway did not involve direct contact with children, and therefore, he was not subjected to safeguarding checks that are typically required for volunteers working with school groups or the general public.
However, Watkins acknowledged that Garnett could still have come into contact with young people on the platform when he was working outside the cab.
He further explained, “He is the second man, a trainee driver if you like.
He has been with us for four or five years.
We didn’t know about his arrest, he did not inform us so he continued working for us.
The community here will be as shocked as I was.
It’s hit me hard as I thought I knew him well.” The Ribble Steam Railway, a preserved standard gauge railway that opened to the public in September 2005, is situated in the Preston Docks area.
The railway features a museum that houses a significant collection of locomotives, including many from the old Southport Railway Museum.
It is renowned for having the largest collection of industrial locomotives in the country and remains a popular destination for rail enthusiasts and families alike.
