CAMBRIDGE MAN MARTIN ABBS SENTENCED FOR MULTIPLE RAPE OFFENSES IN LITTLEPORT

In August 2009, a man identified as Martin Abbs, aged 31 and residing on Hazelwood Close in Cambridge, was sentenced to an indefinite period of imprisonment after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving sexual assault. The court heard that Abbs, along with two accomplices, carried out a brutal attack on a woman and a 15-year-old girl in the village of Littleport.

According to court records, the assault was carried out by a gang armed with knuckle-dusters, all of whom wore masks to conceal their identities. Notably, their disguises included masks resembling those worn by murderers in the horror film Scream, adding a chilling element to the crime. The attack was premeditated, with evidence indicating that the assailants had planned the assault over several days prior to executing it.

During the incident, the victims were forcibly taken upstairs within the property, where Abbs committed the rapes. Following this, the assailants marched the victims to a nearby grassy area, where Abbs continued his assault, raping them again. The court was told that Abbs had admitted to four counts of rape during an earlier hearing, which contributed to the severity of his sentencing.

Judge Jonathan Howarth described Abbs as a “seriously dangerous” offender and emphasized that he would not be eligible for parole for at least six years. The judge made it clear that Abbs would remain incarcerated until he could demonstrate that he no longer posed a threat to society. A forensic psychiatrist’s report was presented, indicating that Abbs’s violent tendencies showed no signs of diminishing, further justifying the lengthy detention.

The court also heard details about the accomplices involved in the attack. Gary Smith, aged 27 from Carlton Way in Cambridge, was sentenced to four years in prison for aggravated burglary, along with a nine-month sentence for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with both sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, was ordered to complete a two-year training and detention order. The youth’s involvement was also linked to the same violent incident, and he was held accountable for his part in the assault.

This case highlights the severity of the crimes committed in Littleport and underscores the judicial system’s response to such acts of violence and sexual assault. The community remains affected by the brutality of the attack, and the sentences serve as a stark reminder of the importance of justice for victims of such heinous crimes.