MARTIN PARK SENTENCED IN MILLON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND SILENCE BUYING

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Millom, builder Martin Park, aged 41, was convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a teenage girl. The incident, which took place in 2007, only came to light after the victim, who was just 15 at the time, finally reported the abuse to authorities last year. Her courage in coming forward was instrumental in bringing Park to justice.

During the trial at Preston Crown Court, it was revealed that Park had pulled off his young victim’s clothing during the assault, leaving her unable to move or speak due to terror. The court heard that after the attack, Park attempted to silence her by offering to take her on a shopping trip to Barrow, an effort to buy her silence and prevent her from reporting the crime. This attempt to cover up the offense was a significant part of the prosecution’s case.

The initial trial in April ended without a verdict, but a subsequent retrial in September resulted in a conviction. Park, who was dressed in a yellow T-shirt and jeans, maintained a calm demeanor throughout the proceedings, even waving to spectators in the public gallery as the judge delivered the sentence. Judge Norman Wright sentenced Park to nine years in prison, a sentence reduced by 88 days to account for time already served on remand.

Judge Wright emphasized that although Park had been drinking before the offense, this did not serve as an excuse for his actions. He stated, “It is clear on the evidence I have heard that afterwards you tried to buy her silence with a shopping trip to Barrow.” The judge acknowledged that Park had a side that was not entirely negative, noting the police had issued him a certificate of merit, and he did not consider Park to pose a serious risk of re-offending. However, the impact on the victim was a paramount concern.

In addition to the prison sentence, Park was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 16. Furthermore, he received an additional one-month sentence for failing to register his address with police following his conviction for the rape. This sentence will run consecutively with his nine-year term.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Brooker from Cumbria Police’s Public Protection Unit praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward after so many years. He expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a message to both victims and offenders that the police and Crown Prosecution Service treat allegations of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness. Brooker highlighted the challenges faced during the investigation, especially given the case’s age, but credited the victim’s cooperation and courage as crucial to securing the conviction. Without her willingness to face her abuser and see justice served, Park might have continued offending against others.

As a result of this case, Martin Park is now behind bars, where he rightly belongs, and will spend many years reflecting on his actions. The community of Millom can now find some measure of relief, knowing that justice has been served in this disturbing case of child sexual abuse.