MARTIN CROWE FROM SLOUGH SENTENCED FOR HOAX CALLS TO CHILD PROTECTION HOTLINES IN READING

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable children, Martin Crowe, a 46-year-old resident of Gilliet Road in Slough, was sentenced to prison for making a series of malicious and false calls to child protection hotlines. The incident, which took place in 2007, involved Crowe repeatedly contacting both Childline and the NSPCC with fabricated stories about a young girl being tied up and kidnapped, claims that he used to derive sexual gratification.

According to court proceedings at Reading Crown Court, Crowe’s actions were described as 'unprecedented' and 'disturbing' by Judge Zoe Smith. The court heard that Crowe’s hoax calls were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of malicious behavior. Over a three-week period, he made a staggering 357 calls to the NSPCC and 124 calls to Childline. Further investigations revealed that between October and December 2007, Crowe had made a total of approximately 1,100 calls, all containing false allegations about a young girl being harmed.

Authorities were able to trace the mobile phone used to make these calls directly back to Crowe’s residence, leading to his identification and subsequent arrest. The police’s swift action was instrumental in bringing him to justice. It was also revealed that Crowe had a prior conviction from 1996, when he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl at Harrow Crown Court.

During the sentencing, Judge Zoe Smith emphasized the severity and malicious nature of Crowe’s actions. She sentenced him to two and a half years in prison for the hoax calls, with the understanding that he would be eligible for release on licence after serving half of his sentence. Additionally, Crowe was issued an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) that will remain in effect until further notice. This order explicitly prohibits him from contacting any organization or charity involved in the welfare and protection of young people, aiming to prevent any future harm or interference with child safeguarding efforts.

The case has sparked widespread concern about the potential impact of such hoaxes on child protection services and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from malicious interference. The authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders like Crowe are held accountable for their actions.