TERENCE GARNETT FROM SOUTHSEA JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERED IN ATTIC

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Southsea, Terence Garnett, aged 51, was sentenced to prison after a series of heinous discoveries linked to child pornography. The incident came to light when Garnett's ex-wife, Sandra Garnett, uncovered a hidden collection of explicit images in the attic of their family home during a period when she was in the process of divorcing him.

It was July 2007 when Sandra, while rummaging through Garnett's belongings, stumbled upon several printed photographs depicting children being subjected to sexual abuse. The images were deeply disturbing and prompted her to contact the police immediately. Garnett had asked her to retrieve some documents he claimed he needed, which he had left in the attic, but instead, she found the illicit material.

Following her discovery, Sandra Garnett promptly reported the matter to law enforcement authorities. Police officers responded swiftly and arrested Garnett at his workplace. During the subsequent investigation, authorities seized Garnett's computer for forensic analysis. The examination revealed a staggering collection of over 2,000 indecent images of children, with hundreds of these photographs showing minors under the age of 13 being subjected to serious sexual abuse.

In interviews with police, Garnett admitted that he had printed some of the pornographic material out of curiosity. However, he insisted that he had not used his credit card to purchase the images and claimed he did not believe he had committed any wrongdoing. Garnett also maintained that he had no sexual interest in children, a statement that was met with skepticism by the authorities.

Garnett, who resides on Ruskin Road in Southsea, faced charges at Portsmouth Crown Court. He was convicted of 26 counts of downloading indecent images of children and two counts of possessing such images. The court sentenced him to a total of 26 weeks in prison. It is expected that Garnett will serve approximately half of this sentence before being released on license, subject to supervision and restrictions until the sentence concludes.

Judge Ian Pearson delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the severity of the case. He stated, “This was a substantial quantity of pornography involving children. The vast majority of the material concerns children under 13. People in your position add to the misery of the victims. Without customers like yourself, those who produce these images would not be able to make a living. Only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified in this case.”

Law enforcement officials praised Sandra Garnett for her courageous decision to report her ex-husband. Detective Constable Jamie Collins from Waterlooville CID highlighted her bravery, saying, “This was a particularly courageous decision for Mrs Garnett to make – especially as it was her ex-husband. She knew it was the right decision, and we are very grateful to her for reporting it.”

As part of his sentence, Garnett was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for the next seven years. This legal requirement obliges him to notify authorities of any change of address or name. Failure to comply with these notification obligations could result in a further prison sentence of up to five years, underscoring the seriousness of his conviction and the ongoing monitoring of his conduct.