Sergeant who bugged victim’s house jailed for rape and stalking
An officer has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of rape, stalking and perverting the course of justice.
Police Sergeant Clive Garton, 56, bugged the home of a woman so he could eavesdrop on her conversations before raping her in October 2016.
The Kent Police officer, based in Sittingbourne, had refused to leave his victim’s home despite her pleas but begged her to retract her report once she contacted police.
She told attending officers she had endured years of stalking and controlling behaviour from Garton, including tracking her mobile phone so he could follow her movements at all times.
Garton had even monitored her movements while on bail for the offences he committed against her.
He told a trial in May that his victim consented to sex but admitted placing two listening devices that were designed to look like plug sockets.
On Tuesday (June 26), he appeared before Lewes Crown Court where he was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for the rape offence with a three-year extension due to its serious nature.
He was also given four years to run consecutively for the stalking offences, with the charge of perverting the course of justice taken into consideration at sentencing.
Garton was immediately suspended from duty on his arrest in October 2016. Kent Police will now begin internal conduct proceedings.
Superintendent Nick Gossett said the sentence reflects the “seriousness of the offences committed by Garton”.
He added: “The victim in this case has shown great bravery in coming forward and giving evidence in difficult circumstances.
“I would like to commend her for her actions. She has endured years of coercive and controlling behaviour at the hands of Garton and I hope the verdict will allow her the opportunity to move forward with her life.”
