STANLEY GARLAND FROM SOUTH MOLTON JAILED FOR GROOMING 12-YEAR-OLD BOY IN NORTH DEVON

In a serious case that has raised alarm within the North Devon community, Stanley Garland, a 68-year-old man from South Molton, has been sentenced to prison after a series of concerning interactions with a young boy. The incident came to light when a vigilant mother noticed her 12-year-old son being approached and groomed by Garland, prompting her to contact the authorities.

Garland, who resides at Lamaton Park in South Molton, had previously been banned from any unsupervised contact with children due to his extensive criminal history involving paedophile offences dating back to the 1970s. His past convictions include serving two separate jail sentences for sexual assaults committed against teenage boys, and he was registered as a sex offender long before relocating to North Devon.

The recent incident unfolded when Garland befriended the young boy after meeting him on the streets of South Molton. He then proceeded to give the boy a mobile phone, which he topped up with credits, and invited him to go on holiday. During their interactions, Garland asked the boy personal questions about his virginity, which understandably made the child feel uncomfortable. The mother, suspicious of Garland’s intentions, became increasingly concerned when she learned of his questions and his behavior towards her son.

Her suspicions led her to contact the police, who responded swiftly. When officers stopped Garland in the street, his immediate reaction was to inquire if he was being questioned about the boy, whom he had nicknamed 'Smiler.' Garland later claimed that his actions were innocent and that he was merely trying to cheer up the boy, whom he believed to be around 14 or 15 years old. He insisted he had no sexual motives, despite the nature of his questions and offers.

Garland’s history of sexual offences is extensive. He was previously jailed for two years in 1978 and for 42 months in 1993 for indecent assaults on boys. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) after admitting to possessing indecent images of boys in a case at Exeter Crown Court.

During the court proceedings, Garland pleaded guilty to breaching the SOPO by engaging in conversations with the 12-year-old boy, offering him a mobile phone, and asking him to go on holiday. He also admitted to discussing the boy’s virginity, which further alarmed the authorities. Judge Erik Salomonsen at Exeter Crown Court sentenced Garland to a year in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his breach and his ongoing risk to children.

The prosecution, represented by James Taghdissian, highlighted that Garland’s behavior was a clear violation of the order designed to protect minors. The police had previously stopped Garland, and during police interviews, he claimed his actions were innocent and that he was trying to lift the boy’s spirits. However, the evidence and Garland’s own admissions painted a different picture, indicating a pattern of grooming behavior that spanned over three decades.

Garland’s defense attorney, Nigel Wraith, argued that Garland’s intentions were benign and that he was acting as the sole carer for a friend who had suffered serious injuries and brain damage in an accident 19 years ago, requiring 24-hour supervision. Nonetheless, the court was unpersuaded, and magistrate Judith Kauntze made it clear that Garland’s breach of the order was unacceptable. She stated that any breach of such an order could result in up to five years of imprisonment and that Garland’s continued contact with the boy, despite knowing his age, was a grave violation of the law.

Garland is scheduled to be sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on July 31, with the case serving as a stark reminder of the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders and the ongoing risks posed by known sex offenders in the community.