Kent Police Sergeant Clive Garton found guilty of rape

A Serving Kent Police officer stationed at Sittingbourne police officer Clive Garton, 56-years-old, has been found guilty of rape, perverting the course of justice and stalking offences after appearing before Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 May 2018. The court heard how on 22 October 2016 Garton attended the home of his victim. They had a row and the victim understood he was going to leave. Instead Garton approached her as she sat on the stairs and raped her. Throughout the ordeal the victim repeatedly asked him to stop. She rang the police to report the rape, Garton stayed and pleaded with her to retract her report. The victim considered this as her attacker promised to agree to a number of demands if she dropped the charges. When questioned by attending officers the victim spoke of how she had endured years of stalking and controlling behaviour from Garton, including him placing bugs around her home so he could listen to her conversations. He also tracked her mobile phone so he could find out where she was at all times. During the trial the jury was told that Garton had attempted to track the victim’s mobile phone whilst he was on bail for the offences against her. Garton claimed the victim had consented to sex with him, but admitted placing the listening devices in her home. In interview he told officers he could dial into the devices and listen to the victim. A search of the victim’s home resulted in officers seizing two devices. They were disguised to look like plug sockets and contained sim cards. After listening to the evidence the jury returned a guilty verdict. He has been remanded into custody and will be sentenced on 6 June 2018. Upon his arrest Garton was immediately suspended from duty. Following the conclusion of the trial officers from Kent Police’s Professional Standards Department will now begin an investigation as part of a conduct review. Superintendent Nick Gossett said: ‘The victim in this case has showed 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. ‘This case demonstrates how seriously we take offences of both stalking and rape. I would like to urge anyone who is subjected to this behaviour to come forward. You will be taken seriously and there is a wealth of support on offer to help victims.’