Detective Constable Samuel Garside (pictured left) of Dyfed-Powys Police - who was featured on this blog just the other day - has been found not guilty of a charge of sexual assault by penetration. As reported here previously, Garside - of Cwmann, near Lampeter - was charged with forcing a woman into a shop doorway and penetrating her digitally on an evening out in Aberaeron. On the second day of his trial at Swansea Crown Court - on November 28th, 2024 - Garside claimed in his defence that flirtatious conversation and a suggestive comment by the woman when he was adjusting his trousers preceded the sex act. He said they kissed before the brief act, claiming she made no attempt to resist his advances. The married detective claims he pulled away quickly once he realised he was cheating on his wife. The jury took an hour of deliberations, before finding him innocent. D.C. Garside will remain suspended from duties, pending the result of an internal investigation into his conduct, quite separate from the criminal trial. Knowing what I know about the police, it wouldn't surprise me if Garside was actually guilty and was lucky to get off. On the other hand, having myself been the victim of a woman who admitted she made up lies about me whilst under the influence of illegal drugs, resulting in a fallacious criminal conviction, it wouldn't shock me if the woman in this case was lying or mistaken. Either way, I don't think Garside (or anyone else) should be named until the case has been concluded and the accused's guilt or innocence established.
