SHIPLEY PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN GARROD SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR ABUSING FOUR GIRLS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Shipley, Stephen Garrod, a man with a disturbing history of abusing young girls, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his heinous crimes. The lengthy ordeal spanned over a decade, during which Garrod preyed on four vulnerable girls, with the youngest victim only seven years old at the time of the abuse.

Garrod, aged 54, faced a jury at Bradford Crown Court where he was convicted on five counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual assault against a child under 13, and one count of exposure. Despite denying nine charges altogether, the jury found him guilty of these serious offenses. He was acquitted of two additional charges of sexual assault against a minor under 13.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron detailed the disturbing nature of Garrod’s actions, revealing that the offender, residing on Plumpton Walk in Wrose, Shipley, had exposed himself to one of the young girls and threatened her to keep silent about the incident. The initial offense was committed between 1997 and 1998, with the most recent occurring between 2007 and 2009. The police had been aware of allegations against Garrod since 2003, but after an investigation, no further action was taken at that time. It was only in 2014, following a second complaint, that authorities reopened the case, leading to the subsequent charges and convictions.

During the sentencing hearing, impact statements from three of the victims were read aloud. The first victim, who was between seven and nine years old during the abuse, expressed the lasting damage inflicted upon her. She stated, “Ever since that time it’s always been with me. It makes me feel I’m not worth much, and it affected my whole self-esteem. It made me very wary of trusting people, and I have to doubt everything all the time.”

Another victim, who was older at the time of her abuse, shared her ongoing struggles, saying, “It’s always there, and I can’t stop myself thinking about it. I get sickly, nervous, and scared about meeting new people.” The third victim, aged 11 when she was assaulted, described how her trust in adults was shattered. She said, “I lost my trust in adults. Before all this I was happy-go-lucky as a child should be, but after, I was moody and reserved.”

Garrod’s defense attorney, John Boumphrey, highlighted that his client was born almost deaf and mute, which contributed to difficulties in socializing and learning how to interact with others. Boumphrey emphasized that Garrod maintained his innocence regarding the charges but was suffering from depression and various medical issues. He pleaded with the court not to impose a sentence that would “crush” his client.

However, Judge Neil Davey QC was unequivocal in his sentencing, stating, “Your apparent blameless life masked a sexual attraction for young girls. Each victim suffered psychological harm as a result of what you chose to do to them, and they each suffer to this day.” In addition to the prison term, Garrod was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any future offenses and protecting the community of Shipley from further harm.