MARTIN KING PLYMOUTH PAEDOPHILE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER MOLESTING SLEEPING BOY IN DEVONPORT

In a case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, a man named Martin King was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy while the victim was asleep. The incident took place in October 2008, specifically on the 17th, within the confines of King's flat located on Devonport Road in the Stoke area of Plymouth.

Despite the gravity of the offense, King was not sent to prison but was instead given a suspended jail sentence during a hearing at Plymouth Crown Court. The court proceedings revealed that King had a history of criminal behavior, including previous convictions for indecent assault on a female and possession of indecent photographs, which added weight to the seriousness of his latest offense.

During the trial, the court heard that King’s actions involved molesting the sleeping boy, an act that caused significant concern given the victim's age and the vulnerability associated with sleeping victims. The case was brought to light after the incident, and King’s defense argued that he had been truculent and ill-tempered during his interview with the Probation Service. However, he expressed his willingness to comply with the court’s sentence.

Prosecutors and the judge emphasized that King’s behavior lacked remorse, as he attempted to shift blame onto the young victim. The judge, Francis Gilbert, reminded King of an earlier hearing where he had indicated, through a Goodyear Indication, that he would not face immediate imprisonment if he pleaded guilty. The purpose of that indication was to avoid forcing the young victim to testify in court, thus sparing him additional distress and embarrassment.

Nevertheless, Judge Gilbert made it clear that King’s lack of remorse and the nature of the offense warranted a stern response. He sentenced King to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, meaning that King would not serve time unless he committed another offense during that period. Additionally, the judge imposed a two-year ban on King staying overnight in any residence with a child under 16 and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

The judge issued a stern warning to King, stating, “You are old enough to know what happens if you breach these conditions. If you cross the barrier, you know the consequences; any breach and you can be confident you will be sent to prison.” The ruling underscored the seriousness of the offense and the importance of monitoring King’s conduct moving forward, emphasizing that any violation of the court’s orders would result in immediate imprisonment.