TEESSIDE MAN JAILED FOR 29 YEARS FOR MULTIPLE RAPES AND INDECENT ASSAULTS

Martin Hayes, aged 62, received a 29-year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving two victims—a young woman and a teenage girl. The nine-day trial at Teesside Crown Court determined Hayes’ guilt on various charges. The allegations revealed that these crimes took place in Middlesbrough during the 1990s, with Hayes denying the accusations and initially dismissing the women as liars when they reported the abuse.

Judge Jonathan Carroll characterized Hayes as a "monster," highlighting the severe and enduring trauma inflicted on his victims. The first victim, a young woman, was raped four times and also subjected to indecent assault. The second victim, a girl at the time, was raped once and faced six counts of indecent assault. Court proceedings described how Hayes assaulted the woman in an isolated country layby and the girl in a rural setting.

Victims’ impact statements read aloud during sentencing revealed immense suffering. The teenage girl conveyed her despair, stating she had attempted suicide following the abuse and called Hayes a "monster." She criticized Hayes for his lack of remorse, saying, "When you sexually abused and raped that little girl, you did not care or consider her future. You tried to discredit me and slander my character. Your actions caused me to attempt to end my life more than once. You have been exposed as a lying paedophile. You're a monster. You will never comprehend the pain and damage you caused, staining my body, soul, and mind with your toxic ways."

The other victim described her life since the assault as "torture," expressing hope to find happiness after Hayes’ sentencing. She said, "Since these events, my life has been in turmoil and pain. I am now more aware of my personal safety socially. I hope that once this case concludes, I will find emotional closure and be able to move forward for my own sake and my family's. We all deserve to live happily again."

In her mitigation, Hayes' legal team pointed out that he had no prior convictions and had maintained a successful career. Yet, Judge Carroll emphasized Hayes’ arrogant and selfish attitude, calling him a "serial, predatory, sexual abuser of women and young girls."

Hayes was convicted on four counts of rape, multiple counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual assault. After sentencing, he was remanded to Durham Prison, where he will serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release on license. A lifelong restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting contact with his victims, and he was added to the Sex Offenders Register. The courtroom was filled with emotion, with applause from the spectators after the verdict was announced.

Victims felt a mix of relief and ongoing pain. One expressed her desire for emotional closure and the chance to rebuild her life. The case underscores the destructive impact of Hayes’ predatory conduct and the justice achieved through this conviction.