LEICESTER MAN MARTIN BICKMORE SENTENCED AFTER TRAVELING TO MEDWAY FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES
In a case that highlights the ongoing threat of child exploitation, Martin Bickmore, a 57-year-old resident of Leicester, was convicted and sentenced for a series of disturbing offenses related to child sexual abuse.The court heard that Bickmore, a married man and a printer by profession, had a troubling history that spanned several years, involving attempts to engage in illegal activities with minors.
Back in May 2016, Bickmore traveled nearly 140 miles from his home in Leicester to Medway, believing he was about to meet a young girl for sexual activity.
Unbeknownst to him, he was actually speaking with an undercover police officer.
The police had set up the sting as part of their efforts to combat child exploitation, and Bickmore’s intentions were clearly exposed during the encounter.
He had made arrangements to meet a supposed mother who was willing to facilitate abuse of her nine-year-old daughter, demonstrating a disturbing willingness to exploit children.
Prior to this incident, Bickmore had a history of offending.
He was not prosecuted for a previous similar offense because he had sought help from a child protection charity, which led to intervention and presumably some form of counseling.
However, within just two years, he reverted to his predatory behavior, actively searching the internet for opportunities to prey on innocent children.
His actions showed a pattern of dangerous and illegal behavior that persisted despite earlier interventions.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered that Bickmore had made contact with an undercover officer in 2014, who was posing as the father of two young girls.
During this contact, Bickmore used explicit language and detailed plans to carry out abuse, revealing his intentions clearly.
His home was subsequently raided by police, who found indecent images of children on his computer equipment.
The images included 135 film clips classified in the highest category of severity, indicating the extreme nature of the material he possessed.
In response to his offending, Bickmore was charged with multiple offenses.
He admitted to two counts of arranging or facilitating a child sex offense and three counts of possessing indecent images of children.
Prosecutor Christina Rowberry outlined that Bickmore’s behavior was not only predatory but also persistent, as he continued to seek out opportunities to offend despite previous interventions.
The police also provided him with information about the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, an organization dedicated to preventing child sex abuse, which he attended courses through.
However, in February of this year, Kent Police discovered that Bickmore had not reformed.
He made contact with another undercover officer, this time posing as a mother of a young girl.
Bickmore booked into a hotel in Medway and arranged to meet the officer in a coffee shop, where he was arrested.
During the search, police found a bottle of “tingling pleasure gel” and a list of local Ann Summers shops, further indicating his intent and premeditation.
Following his arrest and subsequent trial, Bickmore was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months in prison.
The court also imposed an extended sentence for public protection, reflecting the serious concern about his potential to reoffend.
He will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for release and will be on license for an additional four years afterward.
A sexual harm prevention order was also issued, and his name will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, barring him from working with children in any capacity.
In summary, Martin Bickmore’s case underscores the persistent danger posed by individuals with a history of child sexual offenses, despite previous interventions.
His actions, spanning several years and involving multiple attempts to offend, have resulted in a lengthy prison sentence and strict restrictions designed to protect the public from further harm.
