GERALD MARTIN OF HARTLEPOOL JAILED FOR ABUSING BOYS IN PUBLIC TOILETS AND FUNERAL PARLOUR

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Hartlepool community, funeral director Gerald Martin has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over several decades. The crimes, which spanned from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, involved the abuse of five vulnerable teenage boys, some of whom were targeted in public toilets around Hartlepool, while others were assaulted at Martin’s own funeral parlour located on Park Road.

Gerald Martin, aged 66 and residing in Valley Close, Hartlepool, was convicted by a jury on 14 counts that included indecent assault, false imprisonment, and offences that would now be classified as rape and attempted rape. The victims, whose ages ranged from 12 to 15 at the time of the abuse, included one individual who was 32 years younger than Martin. The court heard that Martin exploited his position of trust and his role as a funeral director to carry out these despicable acts, which he committed with disturbing persistence and predatory intent.

The court proceedings revealed that Martin’s abuse was not limited to isolated incidents. One victim recounted being forcibly taken from a public toilet, bundled into a car, and then subjected to sexual assault at Martin’s funeral parlour. The abuse reportedly began in the 1970s, and evidence showed that Martin had been seen as a respected member of the community, even serving as captain of the local Boys Brigade at one point. Despite this facade, his actions betrayed a dark and predatory nature.

During the trial, two of the victims, now middle-aged men, delivered powerful and emotional statements describing the profound and lasting impact of Martin’s crimes. One victim tearfully explained, “The abuse has robbed me of happiness, a stable mental mind and everything.” Another shared that his only childhood memory was attending football matches at Ayresome Park, and he lamented that much of his early years had been stolen, saying, “It’s like it has stolen my childhood.”

Other victims revealed they had turned to self-harm, with one individual having attempted suicide as recently as September. The court heard that Martin’s abuse extended over a 22-year period, with some victims recalling being assaulted in public toilets, and others at his funeral parlour. The case first came to light in 2013 when a man disclosed to a nurse that he had been assaulted, prompting further investigations. Subsequently, four more individuals came forward, revealing they had also been victimized as teenagers.

During the trial, Martin admitted to having homosexual experiences but denied any sexual contact with children. He claimed he had not told his wife of 35 years about his past because he loved her and believed they were “absolutely happy.” Nonetheless, the jury found him guilty of all charges, and Judge Simon Phillips QC sentenced him to two decades behind bars, describing him as a “persistent, predatory paedophile to boys in their early teenage years.”

The case has left a lasting scar on the Hartlepool community, highlighting the dangers of hidden predatory behavior masked by a veneer of respectability. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from those who seek to exploit them under the guise of trust and community standing.