SHANE GARNETT FROM BOSCOMBE SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BOURNEMOUTH

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Boscombe and the wider Bournemouth area, Shane Garnett, a 40-year-old former nightclub doorman, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for a series of heinous child sex offenses. Garnett’s crimes spanned over a period during which he exploited multiple young victims, including a 12-year-old girl and her younger brother, as well as an 18-year-old male, leaving a trail of devastation that will have lasting impacts on their lives.

Garnett, who resided on Argyll Road in Boscombe, was convicted after a detailed three-week trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. The jury found him guilty of 12 separate charges related to child sexual abuse, despite his persistent denial of any wrongdoing. The court heard how Garnett had initially assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Bournemouth, engaging in sexual acts with her over a span of three months. He was convicted of indecently assaulting her, indecency with a child, and three counts of having sex with a girl under the age of 13. Notably, he was acquitted of one charge of indecency with a child concerning the same girl.

Further evidence revealed that Garnett had groomed the girl’s younger brother, starting from when he was just nine years old. He was found guilty of indecently assaulting the boy, as well as two counts of indecency with a child and engaging in sexual activity with him. The court also heard how Garnett later molested an 18-year-old male after administering drugs to him. Garnett was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against this young man, who has since moved abroad to rebuild his life away from the trauma inflicted upon him.

The case came to light after the victims confided in their mother, who was horrified to learn of the abuse. She promptly contacted the police, leading to Garnett’s arrest and subsequent trial. Throughout the proceedings, Garnett maintained his innocence, claiming that his victims were all over the age of 16 and had encouraged him to engage in sexual relations. His defense attorney, David Jenkins, highlighted that Garnett had no prior convictions for sexual offenses or violence, suggesting that he lacked foresight and was not an inherently dangerous individual.

However, Judge Peter Johnson did not accept these arguments. In his sentencing remarks, he described Garnett as ‘cunning and controlling,’ emphasizing the calculated nature of his grooming and abuse. The judge stated, “There was a period of grooming in respect of each of these young people. It isn’t just one life you have ruined, it’s two.” Garnett was ordered to be placed on the sex offender register indefinitely and was banned from having any unsupervised contact with children.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Phil Read of the Bournemouth Child Protection Unit expressed his concerns about Garnett’s dangerousness. He stated, “Garnett is a dangerous man; it is unusual for a sex offender to target both boys and girls. I believe there are other victims and would urge them to get in touch with the Bournemouth Child Protection Unit. I’ve spoken to two other males who claim they have something to say but don’t want to take it any further. This case illustrates how, even years after the abuse has taken place, perpetrators can still be brought to justice.”

The impact of Garnett’s crimes has left a deep scar on the family of his victims. The mother of the children, still struggling to come to terms with the revelations, described the moment her daughter confided in her. “I was writing a letter to a relative when my daughter suddenly dropped the bombshell; it was like an explosion. Our lives changed forever that day,” she recounted. She expressed her devastation upon learning the full extent of Garnett’s abuse, especially the details her son revealed later. “It is every parent’s worst nightmare and it ripped me apart to hear the sordid details. But I never doubted my children, not for a second. I blamed myself because I was the adult and I couldn’t protect them from harm. I felt responsible for what they had suffered and that I’d failed as a mother.”

She also voiced her strong desire for Garnett to remain behind bars permanently, stating, “I don’t think he should ever be let out of prison; they should throw away the key to his cell. I want to protect other children and grandchildren from him.”

Garnett’s case, which initially garnered media attention in September 2012, underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing need to protect vulnerable children from predators. His conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder that justice can prevail, even many years after the abuse has occurred, and that the community must remain alert to the signs of grooming and exploitation.