MARTIN CROWE FROM OXFORD JAILED FOR THOUSANDS OF SICK CALLS TO CHARITIES AND BEAUTICIANS

In March 2014, a man from Oxford named Martin Crowe was sentenced to more than three years in prison after a disturbing pattern of harassment through phone calls and text messages. The court heard how Crowe, who resides on Dashwood Road in Oxford, had been engaging in a campaign of malicious communication that caused significant distress to numerous individuals and organizations.

Over a period spanning from August to December of the previous year, Crowe made an alarming number of calls and sent countless text messages—more than 5,000 in total—targeting a wide array of recipients, including beauticians, charities, and support organizations across the UK. The frequency of these communications was nearly daily, and the content was deeply troubling, often involving requests for inappropriate images of young girls and disturbing references to their being bound or gagged.

One particularly alarming incident occurred on New Year’s Eve when Crowe contacted the domestic violence charity Your Sanctuary in Warwick. During this call, he pretended to hold a woman prisoner, with tape over her mouth, a stunt that prompted the charity to trace his pay-as-you-go mobile phone number. Authorities were able to locate the device and identify Crowe as the source of the calls.

The court was also informed that Crowe had sent a text message to a woman asking for photographs of young girls aged between seven and eleven, specifically requesting images of them in dresses and make-up. Disturbingly, he expressed a preference for images where the girls appeared to be 'bound and gagged with tape.'

Throughout the investigation, over 100 individuals and organizations, including various Rape Crisis centers, the national charity The Samaritans, and numerous beauticians, were contacted and affected by Crowe’s relentless harassment. The impact of his actions was described as 'devastating' by Judge Ian Pringle, who emphasized that Crowe’s repeated communications had caused extreme distress to many victims.

During the court proceedings, Crowe, who had previously been convicted twice for similar offences and was subject to an anti-social behaviour order in 2009 banning him from making such calls, pleaded guilty to the charges. His defense attorney, Claire Fraser, acknowledged that Crowe’s offending had not escalated but noted that he repeatedly returned to the same pattern of behavior. Fraser expressed that Crowe was remorseful and ashamed, especially noting his tendency to act out during periods of isolation.

Judge Pringle condemned Crowe’s actions, describing the volume of calls as 'truly staggering.' He stated that the effect on the victims was sometimes devastating and that Crowe’s behavior was a waste of resources that could have been used to help those in genuine need. The judge sentenced Crowe to 38 months in prison and ordered him to pay a £120 victims’ surcharge.

Commenting on the case, Detective Sergeant Mike West, who led the investigation, remarked that Crowe now has time in prison to reflect on the harm caused by his actions. The case highlights the serious consequences of malicious and deviant behavior targeting vulnerable individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting victims of abuse and distress.