MARTIN DERHAM BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER CHILD SEX CRIMES IN BOURNEMOUTH

In a highly distressing case that has sent shockwaves through the Bournemouth community, Martin Derham, a former youth worker, was sentenced to six years in prison for serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of his crimes, which took place during 2007, and the subsequent impact on his life and reputation.

Derham, aged 49 and residing on St George's Drive in Bournemouth, faced ten counts of sexually assaulting a minor girl. The allegations came to light after the victim confided in her mother and her former teacher, leading to an investigation by authorities. Prosecutor Carolyn Brantford-Wood described how the young girl had expressed feelings of physical sickness and embarrassment, revealing her fear of getting into trouble if she disclosed the abuse.

According to court records, Derham had manipulated the girl by professing his love and pleading with her to keep the incidents secret. The court heard that after the allegations surfaced in November of the previous year, Derham was immediately suspended from his role. His reaction to the situation was severe; he threatened to take his own life in the nearby New Forest and was later found asleep in the back of his car near Weymouth by police officers.

During the trial, Derham’s defense attorney, Christopher Gair, emphasized that his client’s wife had since filed for divorce and argued that there was no coercion or force involved in the offenses. Gair also pointed out that Derham had no prior history of predatory behavior and accepted responsibility for his actions, asserting that he had already suffered significant consequences.

However, Judge Roger Jarvis was unequivocal in his sentencing, condemning Derham’s actions as a grave betrayal of trust. He stated, “These are terrible things you have done. This was a young girl who trusted you; over last year she was subjected to a series of sexual acts. It was plain exploitation and a serious abuse of trust. There is only one sentence that is appropriate.”

As the sentence was handed down, Derham, who was visibly emotional and repeatedly used an inhaler during the proceedings, broke down in tears as he was led away. The court imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Following the case, Detective Constable Bryan Colley emphasized the importance of children coming forward to report abuse, stating, “It is vital that children, like Derham’s young victim, come forward so we can stop people like him abusing them.”

Representatives from Nacro, the organization for which Derham worked as a tutor, also responded to the incident. Tom Lund, Nacro’s Dorset manager, reassured the public that the charity maintains strict child safety policies. He clarified that the offenses did not occur during Derham’s employment with Nacro, noting that he had undergone a criminal records check and that no complaints of inappropriate behavior had been made prior to this case. Lund urged any concerned parents or families to contact Nacro immediately if they had any worries about their children’s safety, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to safeguarding.

Overall, this case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for robust safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, even from individuals who may initially appear trustworthy.