MARTIN KNIGHT FROM LITTLEHAMPTON SENTENCED AFTER CYBER-BASED SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN BARNSTAPLE

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Martin Knight, a 21-year-old resident of Littlehampton, appeared before Exeter Crown Court to face charges related to a disturbing online and phone-based relationship with a young girl aged just 13 from Barnstaple. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of communication and interaction that spanned over a period, raising serious concerns about the nature of their relationship and Knight's awareness of the girl’s age.

Judge Graham Cottle sentenced Knight to a two-year community order, which includes supervision, emphasizing the importance of monitoring his behavior moving forward. During the sentencing, Judge Cottle remarked, “The supervision will assist you in having a better understanding of how potentially damaging this behaviour is. It frequently leads on to something very much more serious and I want an eye kept on you by an experienced supervision order.”

Knight had previously pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, acknowledging that he did not reasonably believe the girl was 16 or over at the time of their interactions. The offences took place in 2009, when Knight was 19 years old. The court heard that the pair exchanged explicit text messages, which included sexual content, and that they met in person on one occasion in Barnstaple, accompanied by friends. However, this meeting did not result in any sexual activity. Additionally, Knight saw the girl once when she was with a relative, but again, no sexual acts occurred during that encounter.

The court was informed that Knight was aware of the girl’s age, yet their interactions involved role-playing scenarios, with her discussing cuddling and him steering the conversation toward sexual topics. At one point, Knight encouraged her to perform a sexual act, further complicating the case. The police became involved after a member of the girl’s family discovered her chatting with Knight online, prompting an investigation.

It was noted that Knight has no previous criminal record. His defense lawyer, Stephen Dent, argued that Knight denied grooming the girl and had even written a letter to her family, pleading for the relationship to continue. Mr. Dent described the relationship as “peculiar,” emphasizing that it was almost entirely confined to cyberspace, which Knight claimed felt safer for both parties than real-life interactions.

Judge Cottle acknowledged the complexities of the case, stating, “I’m not suggesting he is a predatory paedophile but there are some concerns in the pre-sentence report over him thinking he has not done much if anything wrong.” As part of his sentence, Knight was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, reflecting the court’s serious stance on such offences and the importance of community safety.