MARTIN DEWS FROM DEWSBURY, LEEDS, AND OXFORD: SEX PREDATOR'S REIGN OF TERROR IN WEST YORKSHIRE AND OXFORD

Martin Dews, a man with a troubling history and a pattern of manipulative behavior, was recently convicted of heinous crimes committed in Oxford and the surrounding areas. His criminal activities, which included grooming and raping a teenage girl, have sent shockwaves through the communities of Dewsbury, Leeds, and Oxford, highlighting the dangers posed by online predators.

On the week of his conviction, Oxford Crown Court sentenced Dews to six and a half years in prison after a jury found him guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl. The incident took place in May near the Kassam Stadium, where Dews lured his victim into a secluded field after establishing contact through Facebook, a popular social networking site. The young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described her ordeal as a “living hell,” expressing her belief that Dews deserved a longer sentence. Her testimony revealed that Dews had groomed her over the internet, initially making contact in December 2007, when he was a 30-year-old man from Oxford.

According to court proceedings, the grooming process escalated quickly. Just two weeks after their initial online interaction, Dews moved into the home of a single mother from Greater Leys, Oxford, with whom he had begun a relationship. During this period, he began targeting other young women on the estate, including the 17-year-old victim. She recounted that Dews had known her from the local area and had added her as a Facebook friend, subsequently sending her messages expressing romantic interest, which she repeatedly rejected. Despite her refusals, Dews persisted, and the situation culminated in the assault in the field near the Kassam Stadium.

Following the attack, Dews fled Oxford, disappearing from the scene. He later moved in with a woman in Leeds, a mother of seven, whom he had met while playing Facebook Poker. It was during this time that police finally tracked him down in West Yorkshire. His former partner, who no longer resides at the Greater Leys address, described Dews as someone who targeted single mothers. She revealed that he visited her shortly after they began communicating online, staying for a total of 18 months. She also noted that Dews was unemployed, spending hours alone with his laptop in a cupboard he referred to as his office.

In June, Dews abruptly left her residence, claiming he was visiting family members. When she checked his Facebook account, she discovered that he had over 800 friends, almost all of whom were women. His profile was updated to show that he was “in a relationship” with the woman from Leeds. Since his conviction, his Facebook page remained active until last Friday, with several individuals posting comments about him. The victim from Oxford described Dews as both manipulative and charming, emphasizing the nightmare she endured. She expressed concern that he preyed on young mothers on benefits and speculated about how many other victims he might have had, given his pattern of moving from family to family.

Tragically, Dews’ criminal behavior was met with retaliation. Two days after the police were informed of the rape, a caravan parked outside the victim’s house was set ablaze, with the word “Paedo” scrawled on a window. A week later, the same house was broken into, and every room, including the loft, was ransacked. Despite these acts of intimidation and violence, no arrests have been made in connection with these incidents.

During the trial, it was revealed that Dews was receiving incapacity benefit due to a leg injury and was undergoing treatment for depression. The jury found him guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault but acquitted him of two other charges involving rape of an adult and a child. His name will be permanently listed on the Sex Offenders’ Register. It was also disclosed that Dews had a lengthy criminal history, with 27 previous convictions for offenses such as car theft, violence, and burglary.

The young victim expressed her anger and frustration, stating, “He should have got longer than he did. It has been hell… he’s scum.” Her words underscore the profound impact of Dews’ actions and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.