GARRY MARTIN, FIFE RAPIST, CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES AND ANIMAL ABUSE IN EDINBURGH TRIAL

Detectives have lauded the extraordinary bravery demonstrated by women and children who came forward to assist in the conviction of Garry Martin, a man whose long history of violence and cruelty spanned nearly three decades in Fife.

Following a comprehensive trial held at the High Court in Edinburgh, the 51-year-old defendant was found guilty of an extensive list of charges, including 19 counts of rape, indecent assault, misconduct, assault, and the ill-treatment of dogs. The court has indicated that Martin should prepare for a sentence that will be notably severe, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes.

Martin’s criminal activities, which involved multiple victims, took place over a period from 1995 to 2012, with incidents occurring at various locations across Fife, including Kirkcaldy, Leven, Windygates, and Thornton. His victims ranged from women to children, and his actions included physical assaults, sexual violence, and animal cruelty.

Detective Constable Mhairi Best, a member of the Non-Recent Child Abuse Investigation Team, expressed her admiration for the victims who courageously came forward despite the trauma they endured. She highlighted the critical role their testimonies played in securing Martin’s conviction and urged others who may have suffered similar abuse to make contact with authorities.

“Martin terrorized women and children over a 27-year period,” she stated. “To date, he has shown no remorse or understanding of the consequences of his despicable behaviour.”

She further added, “My thoughts remain with the victims and their families. This conviction underscores the seriousness of Martin’s crimes and the bravery of those who testified against him. Their willingness to come forward was instrumental in bringing him to justice.”

Detective Best emphasized that the investigation was complex and that police will continue to pursue justice for all victims of such crimes. She encouraged anyone with information or who has experienced abuse to come forward, assuring them of full support regardless of how much time has passed.

Garry Martin’s offending history is extensive. It began in 1995 when he repeatedly assaulted a woman at an address in Kirkcaldy, during which he struck her on the head, grabbed and dragged her by the hair and body, and subjected her to stamping and spitting.

In the same year, he also began attacking a young girl, with subsequent assaults over the next four years at residences in Leven and Kirkcaldy. These included pinning her against walls, hitting her with his hands, striking her with a can, and kicking her.

In 2000, at a house in Thornton, he assaulted another adult woman, grabbing her by the hair, holding her down, repeatedly punching her on the head, and biting her body. The following year, at locations in Kirkcaldy and Windygates, he assaulted yet another woman, dragging her by the hair, pushing her to the ground, throwing her over a sofa, and physically attacking her with punches and by throwing her down stairs.

Between May 2003 and July 2006, Martin’s cruelty extended to animals, as he beat, kicked, and ill-treated a dog in incidents in Kirkcaldy and Markinch. During this period, he also assaulted another woman, punching and kicking her, pulling her by the hair, and attempting to topple furniture onto her.

His violent streak continued with an attack on a young boy at a residence in Kirkcaldy between November 2004 and December 2005, where he hit the child with his hand and threw food at him.

Martin’s criminal record also includes sexual offenses, as he raped a woman and a girl at an address in Kirkcaldy, and further beat and kicked a second dog in the town. In 2009, he committed additional sexual assaults on another woman in his hometown, molesting her while she was asleep.

Most recently, between January 2012 and January 2014, Martin assaulted another woman at various addresses in Kirkcaldy, punching her on the head, throwing objects at her, and threatening her with violence.

Garry Martin, who resides on Massereene Road in Kirkcaldy, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, with the court emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need for a fitting punishment.