MARTIN TODD'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN PLYMOUTH: A SERIAL SEX OFFENDER'S DARK PAST REVEALED
In a case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, Martin Todd, aged 50, faces a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young boys over two decades ago.The crimes, which took place during the 1990s, involved Todd systematically abusing the boys while they were still minors, with the abuse only coming to light after many years of silence.
According to court proceedings, Todd used drugs and alcohol as tools to manipulate and control his victims.
He supplied cannabis and alcohol to the two boys, who were then between the ages of 12 and 15 at the time, to lower their inhibitions and facilitate his repeated acts of molestation.
The jury at Plymouth’s Crown Court heard that Todd raped one of the teenagers and attempted to commit a similar sexual assault on the other during this period.
Evidence presented during the five-day trial revealed disturbing details of Todd’s manipulative behavior.
It was disclosed that he played card games with one of the boys, where the loser was expected to pay a 'sex forfeit,' a disturbing game that underscores the predatory nature of his actions.
Additionally, Todd married in September 1993, a time when he was secretly abusing the boys, raising questions about his motives and the extent of his deception.
During the trial, Todd denied that his marriage was a cover-up for his abusive behavior, although he did admit to having a sexual interest in children.
The victims, who finally reported the abuse to police in 2016—more than 20 years after the incidents—described the profound impact the abuse had on their lives.
One of the boys was driven into drug addiction, and it was only through counseling that he found the courage to come forward and report the crimes.
By the time of his conviction, Todd was already a well-known offender with a criminal record comprising over 100 offenses.
He was serving time for other serious sexual crimes against boys, including a 2011 indeterminate sentence for sexually abusing and attempting to rape a vulnerable 15-year-old.
The recent convictions will be served concurrently with his existing sentence, which underscores the severity of his criminal history.
Judge James Townsend, presiding over the case, described Todd as an “unrepentant sexual predator” and ordered him to be remanded in custody until sentencing scheduled for August 16.
The judge emphasized that Todd’s crimes warranted a very lengthy prison term, considering the gravity of the offenses and the impact on the victims.
Todd is currently held at HMP Whatton in Nottingham, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault against each of the boys, with the abuse occurring between 1990 and 1996.
The victims were aged between 12 and 15 at the time.
Although Todd denied raping one of the boys and attempting to assault the other during the same period, the jury swiftly convicted him on all counts, reaching unanimous verdicts within just an hour and a half.
Judge Townsend praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and for their dignified manner in recounting their traumatic experiences, acknowledging the profound effect the abuse had on their lives.
One of the victims reportedly turned to drug abuse as a coping mechanism, and it was only through counseling that he was able to find the strength to report the crimes.
Todd’s defense attempted to dismiss the allegations, claiming that the victims fabricated the stories to gain compensation.
However, the evidence and testimonies proved overwhelming.
Throughout his criminal history, Todd has accumulated numerous convictions.
In 1997, he was jailed for three years after being convicted of two separate sex attacks on young boys.
Later, in 2006, he received a three-and-a-half-year sentence for breaching a sexual offences prevention order by befriending families with children.
His most notorious sentence came in 2011, when he was given an indefinite sentence for public protection with a minimum of five years, following his conviction at Leicester Crown Court for luring a vulnerable 15-year-old boy to his flat with the promise of cannabis, then sexually abusing him and attempting to rape him during the visit.
Judge Simon Hammond described Todd as an “unrepentant sexual predator” at that time, highlighting the ongoing danger he posed to society.
As the legal proceedings continue, Todd’s latest sentencing will reflect the seriousness of his crimes, with authorities emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable children from individuals like him in the future.
