Child molester escapes prison

A PAEDOPHILE has walked free from court after the victim’s father made a plea for him not to go to jail.

Lee Garrod (20) sexually assaulted a little girl while she slept after she was invited to stay at his former family home in Oldham.

The abuse went on for up to eight years until 2007 before the victim, now 15 and a close family friend, told Garrod to stop. She later made a complaint to police.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Garrod, now of Farm Street, Heywood, was convicted of indecent assault and sexual assault.

He denied the charges but, while awaiting sentence, confessed to touching the youngster.

Garrod was given a three-year community rehabilitation order with a condition he attend a sex-offender treatment programme.

Passing sentence, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said the victim’s father — who cannot be named to protect her identity — had asked that Garrod not to go to jail.

The father said if Garrod had admitted his guilt as soon as the girl had made her complaint, it might never have gone to court.

The court heard Garrod’s mother suffered from a chronic fatigue illness which meant she relied on her son for care.

Judge Khokhar told Garrod: “These offences are serious but while you gave your evidence I did not think you were someone who presented a danger to people.

“You are a loner and an inadequate person, and it seems to me you need help rather than a period of custody.

“The girl’s father says I should not send you to custody because of your mother. This is the complainant’s father saying he doesn’t want you to go to custody.

“It is plain she now doesn’t like you for what you did but that is the punishment you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

“In so far as your mother is concerned, she lives with you but she is sometimes rendered immobile and is constantly reliant on you. There is nobody who can take your position if I send you to custody.”

Earlier, Martin Sharpe (defending) said Garrod was someone who had difficulty forming relationships with the opposite sex.

Mr Sharpe said there was no manipulation of the girl and no offending had occurred since the abuse stopped.