A child sex predator who abused and manipulated a young girl over several years has been jailed. Peter Garns, 69, was found guilty by a jury of seven counts of indecent assault and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. Police said the charges related to the same girl over a three-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s in Stockport.
Grooming and abuse details
Detectives said Garns, of no fixed abode, groomed the girl by giving her cigarettes and putting credit onto her mobile phone. At Bolton Crown Court on Monday, September 21, he was jailed for sixteen-and-a-half years.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said after the hearing: “Garns manipulated the girl into believing they had a genuine relationship and that he loved her. Over the course of three years in the Stockport area, Garns sexually assaulted the girl on multiple occasions, as well as giving her cigarettes and putting credit on her phone, where he would regularly text her. During one of the instances of abuse, the girl was still wearing her school uniform.”
Victim’s bravery leads to conviction
As she grew older, the woman came forward and disclosed the crimes she had endured. Her bravery and commitment to supporting the investigation meant Garns was jailed for more than 16 years.
Detective Inspector Rebecca Jones, from GMP’s Stockport division, said: “Garns abused and manipulated a young girl for more than three years, taking advantage of her and committing vile crimes under the false pretext of love and care. The fact she bravely came forward meant that we were able to put together a comprehensive evidential file which secured charges for Garns, and resulted in his imprisonment. He has plenty of time to think about his crimes and I hope this result brings a level of closure for the woman involved in this case.”
Appeal to other victims
Jones added: “I want any other victims of similar crimes to know that we will always investigate regardless of when it happened – whether it was 30 days or 30 years ago. Please do get in touch with us, as we will do what we can to help and support you.”
