PATRICK GARRIOCK SHAMES ISLE OF WIGHT WITH SEX OFFENDER AT LA BOWL IN RYDE
In September 2023, a disturbing case emerged involving Patrick Garriock, a known sex offender, who was found working at the popular entertainment venue LA Bowl located in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.The situation raised serious concerns about the oversight and safety protocols at the venue, especially given Garriock's criminal background and the nature of his previous convictions.
Garriock, who resides at Cranleigh Gardens in Cowes, was only 20 years old at the time of the incident.
His criminal history dates back to his youth, when he was convicted of a sexual offence involving a young boy under the age of 13.
Additionally, he was found in possession of extreme pornography.
As part of his sentence, Garriock was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that was set to last for five years.
One of the key restrictions imposed by this order was that he was not allowed to be alone with children, a condition designed to prevent any potential reoffending.
The breach of his SHPO was uncovered when Garriock approached police with questions about the possibility of having his order revoked.
During this inquiry, authorities discovered that he was employed at LA Bowl, a popular family-friendly attraction in Ryde.
Annabel Hazlitt, the prosecutor, explained that initially, Garriock was employed as a kitchen porter, a role that did not involve contact with children, and therefore, at that stage, he was not in breach of his SHPO.
However, his employment situation changed when he was assigned to work behind the bar, where he often served children with treats such as Slush Puppies.
Despite this, he was still not considered to be in violation of his restrictions because he was not alone with children during his shifts.
The breach occurred when LA Bowl asked Garriock to start hosting children’s parties, a role that involved direct interaction with minors.
Records from LA Bowl indicated that Garriock had hosted a party for a nine-year-old girl, which was marked as “collection,” meaning that parents were responsible for picking up the children afterward.
Further logs showed that on other occasions, Garriock was the only staff member recorded as present during children’s parties, raising concerns about supervision and safeguarding.
Following an investigation, police arrested Garriock at the residence of an LA Bowl manager with whom he was staying.
Hazlitt clarified that Garriock maintained he was never alone with children and that there were no allegations of misconduct or impropriety during the parties he hosted.
During the police search, officers also discovered that Garriock possessed a Nintendo Wii games console with internet capabilities, which he had not disclosed in relation to his SHPO restrictions, constituting another breach.
Garriock appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court, where he admitted to breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The court sentenced him to a three-year community order, which includes 60 days of rehabilitation activities, and imposed a fine of £500.
The case has highlighted significant concerns regarding the monitoring and safeguarding measures in place at venues like LA Bowl, especially when employing individuals with a history of sexual offences.
