GEORGE GARRETT GROOMED TEEN ON SKEGNESS AND SLEAFORD BEACH DONKEY RIDES
| Red Rose Database
Sleaford Skegness Rapist
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Skegness and Sleaford, Geoffrey Garrett, a man with longstanding ties to the seaside towns, was found guilty of serious sexual misconduct involving a teenage boy. The allegations date back to the early 2000s, when Garrett was working as a donkey ride operator along the beaches of Skegness and Ingoldmells.
According to court proceedings, Garrett, who was 41 at the time of the trial, had established a troubling relationship with the young victim during 2002 and 2003. The prosecution, led by Jeremy Janes, detailed how Garrett befriended the boy, initially offering him tobacco and alcohol as a means of gaining his trust. This pattern of grooming was described as insidious, with Garrett exploiting his position and the boy’s vulnerability to manipulate him.
Mr. Janes explained that Garrett’s employment on the donkey rides at Skegness and Ingoldmells spanned over two decades, during which he became a familiar figure on the beaches. It was during the summer seasons that Garrett reportedly met the young boy, developing an inappropriate relationship that eventually led to multiple sexual assaults. The court heard that Garrett’s actions were characterized by a calculated effort to win the boy’s favor through small gifts, alcohol, and tobacco, which are often used as grooming tools to establish trust and dependency.
When Garrett was eventually arrested, he admitted to knowing the boy through his work on the donkeys but denied any sexual misconduct. Despite his claims, the jury found sufficient evidence to convict him of two counts of indecent assault committed between June 2002 and August 2003. The court also heard allegations involving a second teenage boy, with charges of rape and indecent assault between June 2008 and September 2010, but Garrett was acquitted of those charges.
Due to mental health issues, Garrett was deemed unfit to stand trial at the time, and he was not present during the proceedings. Nevertheless, the jury’s verdict confirmed his guilt regarding the earlier indecent assaults. As part of his sentence, Garrett was placed under an 18-month supervision order, required to register as a sex offender for five years, and subjected to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order. This order explicitly prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16.
Gordon Aspden, Garrett’s defense lawyer, highlighted his client’s mental health struggles and the fact that he was under a disability that prevented him from participating fully in the trial process. The case has brought to light the dangers of grooming and exploitation by individuals working in seemingly benign roles along popular seaside resorts, raising awareness about safeguarding vulnerable youths in such environments.
According to court proceedings, Garrett, who was 41 at the time of the trial, had established a troubling relationship with the young victim during 2002 and 2003. The prosecution, led by Jeremy Janes, detailed how Garrett befriended the boy, initially offering him tobacco and alcohol as a means of gaining his trust. This pattern of grooming was described as insidious, with Garrett exploiting his position and the boy’s vulnerability to manipulate him.
Mr. Janes explained that Garrett’s employment on the donkey rides at Skegness and Ingoldmells spanned over two decades, during which he became a familiar figure on the beaches. It was during the summer seasons that Garrett reportedly met the young boy, developing an inappropriate relationship that eventually led to multiple sexual assaults. The court heard that Garrett’s actions were characterized by a calculated effort to win the boy’s favor through small gifts, alcohol, and tobacco, which are often used as grooming tools to establish trust and dependency.
When Garrett was eventually arrested, he admitted to knowing the boy through his work on the donkeys but denied any sexual misconduct. Despite his claims, the jury found sufficient evidence to convict him of two counts of indecent assault committed between June 2002 and August 2003. The court also heard allegations involving a second teenage boy, with charges of rape and indecent assault between June 2008 and September 2010, but Garrett was acquitted of those charges.
Due to mental health issues, Garrett was deemed unfit to stand trial at the time, and he was not present during the proceedings. Nevertheless, the jury’s verdict confirmed his guilt regarding the earlier indecent assaults. As part of his sentence, Garrett was placed under an 18-month supervision order, required to register as a sex offender for five years, and subjected to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order. This order explicitly prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16.
Gordon Aspden, Garrett’s defense lawyer, highlighted his client’s mental health struggles and the fact that he was under a disability that prevented him from participating fully in the trial process. The case has brought to light the dangers of grooming and exploitation by individuals working in seemingly benign roles along popular seaside resorts, raising awareness about safeguarding vulnerable youths in such environments.