Sex abuser jailed for nine years

Paul Martin (47) pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court after a two-week trial.

Judge Simon Lawler said there had been “compelling evidence” against Martin who he said had carried out the assaults for his own “perverted sexual gratification”.

The judge praised the courage of both victims, one aged between ten and 16, the other between eight and 11 at the time of the offending, for exposing Martin’s “wretched, evil behaviour”.

Judge Lawler said Martin abused the first victim over five years and “robbed those years of her childhood” during which she resorted to “extreme” coping mechanisms.

“No child should have to endure that or resort to having to behave like that,” the judge went on.

Some of the allegations of child sex abuse were heard in court through a live TV link to Australia.

The first victim, who now lives in that country, gave evidence via the link during the trial.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was indecently assaulted by Martin on a number of occasions between 1998 and 2004 at a house in Kimberworth.

She was aged between ten and 16 when the offences took place.

Another female, who also cannot be named, was sexually assaulted by Martin between February 2006 and February 2008.

She was aged between eight and 11 when the offences allegedly happened.

Ms Sarah Wright, prosecuting, said sex abuse by Martin took place over a number of years. She said Martin started abusing the first victim when she was aged ten when grooming for what was to follow began.

Ms Wright said some of the charges were sample counts of the sort of behaviour alleged against Martin, while others were of specific offences at particular times.

Martin, of Hallroyd Lane, Silkstone Common, denied all the allegations.

Ms Wright said the allegations came to a head in July this year and contact was made with the alleged victim who was by then living in Australia.

Police were contacted and an investigation started. Both alleged victims were interviewed by police on DVDs which are being played to the jury before cross-examination by video link.