BRIGHTON PAEDOPHILE MARTIN HAIGH RELEASED AFTER SERVING 12 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In a case that has sparked outrage among local residents and raised serious questions about housing policies, Martin Haigh, a 73-year-old convicted sex offender, has recently been released from prison and is now residing once again in his Brighton flat.Haigh's criminal history is deeply troubling; he was sentenced in 2017 to 11 years behind bars for a series of heinous offences committed against four young boys, some as young as seven, during his tenure as a teacher at the now-defunct Ashdown House School in the 1970s.
Haigh was found guilty of multiple sexual offences, including indecent assault and gross indecency, against two of the pupils.
The court also heard that he encouraged boys at the school to participate in naked parades and engage in sex games, actions that took place between 1973 and 1975.
His crimes extended beyond physical abuse, as he was also convicted of possessing indecent images of children, which were discovered on a computer at his Brighton residence during a police search in 2015.
Despite his incarceration, Haigh was permitted to retain ownership of his two-bedroom council flat in Brighton, valued at approximately £270,000, throughout his six-year imprisonment.
The housing authority allowed him to choose a subtenant for his sixth-floor flat, which boasts a balcony and sea views, provided that the rent was paid.
This decision was made despite existing rules that prohibit tenants from using their homes for criminal activities, moving without permission, or subletting without approval.
Several neighbors voiced their concerns and complaints about the situation, claiming that their appeals to the council had been ignored and that the arrangement was inappropriate given Haigh's criminal background.
Following his release from Leyhill Prison in Gloucestershire, Haigh has returned to live in his Brighton flat.
When approached by a reporter at the property, he denied allegations of subletting, asserting that he had paid the rent himself while incarcerated and that he had allowed a friend of 30 years to live there rent-free.
Haigh explained, “When I was being sent down, I made the housing authority aware of my sentence and, because of my disability, they agreed I would be allowed to maintain the flat provided I paid the rent.” Brighton and Hove City Council declined to comment on individual cases but issued a statement emphasizing that a prison sentence does not automatically terminate a tenancy.
They clarified that, legally, councils generally cannot pursue possession proceedings for offences committed outside their jurisdiction or long before the start of a tenancy.
When questioned about the discovery of child sexual abuse imagery in Haigh’s flat during his arrest, the council spokesperson refused to comment further, citing confidentiality and adherence to procedures.
They stated, “We do not have permission from Mr.
Haigh to discuss specific details of his tenancy.
We have checked our records and are clear that we’ve acted in accordance with the information provided to us, including by the police.” One neighbor, who had previously lodged complaints, expressed frustration and outrage, saying, “Haigh should have lost his tenancy while in prison – not only because he was incarcerated but also because child sex abuse images were found there.
We contacted the council multiple times, but nothing was done.
It’s disgraceful.” The background of Haigh’s crimes is particularly disturbing.
During the 1970s, while teaching English and science at Ashdown House, he engaged in abusive conduct towards pupils, encouraging them to participate in inappropriate activities.
His victims included boys aged between seven and twelve, and he was convicted of four offences—an indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency—against two of these boys.
Additionally, he admitted to seven other offences, including possession of indecent images of children, which were uncovered during a police search in 2015.
Sussex Police confirmed that there was no evidence linking the images to children known to Haigh.
Judge Janet Waddicor sentenced Haigh to a total of 11 years for the sexual offences, with an additional year for possessing child sexual abuse imagery.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which imposes strict restrictions on his access to children and computers.
His case continues to evoke concern among the Brighton community, especially given the apparent leniency in housing arrangements that allowed him to retain his flat during his incarceration.
