MARTYN DARLINGTON SHOCKS RHYL WITH VILE FILMING OF STEPDAUGHTER IN BATH AND TOILET

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Rhyl, North Wales, Martyn Darlington, aged 39, was sentenced to a total of 14 months in prison after being found guilty of a series of heinous crimes involving the covert filming and possession of indecent images of minors, including his own stepdaughter.

The court proceedings revealed that Darlington had secretly installed cameras within his family home in Rhyl, specifically targeting his 15-year-old stepdaughter, Jade Walsh. These cameras captured her in vulnerable moments, such as undressing, washing, and using the toilet, without her knowledge or consent. Police investigations uncovered 38 video files of Jade, all believed to have been recorded when she was approximately 15 years old, which Darlington had stored secretly on his devices.

Authorities also discovered a staggering collection of illegal material. Darlington was found to possess more than 25,000 indecent photographs and videos of children as young as six years old. In addition, police uncovered around 105,000 other images depicting scantily clad young girls in bikinis and underwear, though these were not classified as criminally obscene. The investigation further revealed 365 videos, with 183 still images and 82 films categorized as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency. Among these, 38 films were directly related to the recordings of Jade, made covertly using hidden cameras.

Darlington, who resides in Penymaes, Mynydd Isa near Mold, was convicted on multiple counts. He pleaded guilty to three charges of voyeurism dating back to 2013, and an additional 14 counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court heard that he had also downloaded illegal material over a period of four years, which contributed to the severity of his sentence.

In sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands ordered Darlington to serve eight months for the voyeurism charges, with a further six months to be served consecutively for the possession of indecent images. He was also mandated to register as a sex offender for ten years and was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for the same duration. This order aims to restrict his access to the internet and limit his contact with minors, in an effort to prevent further offending.

The case was brought to light after Darlington’s partner grew suspicious of his behavior. Concerned about the amount of time he spent alone in front of his computer, she enlisted friends to help examine his files. Their investigation uncovered the illicit images, prompting her to contact the police. Darlington admitted to downloading such material from the internet over a four-year period, which led to his arrest.

During the court hearing, Darlington’s defense lawyer, Guy Dodd, emphasized his client’s previously clean record and his professional background as a land surveyor and railway construction engineer. Dodd explained that Darlington’s work often kept him away from home, which contributed to his feelings of loneliness and isolation. He admitted that Darlington had developed an unhealthy interest in adult pornography, which eventually led him to stumble upon child pornography sites. Dodd stressed that Darlington did not initially realize the severity of his actions and claimed he did not purchase cameras specifically for voyeuristic purposes, but rather used equipment intended for remote-controlled cars.

Prosecutor Karl Scholz highlighted the depravity of Darlington’s actions, noting the disturbing nature of the images and videos, especially those involving his stepdaughter. The court was shown a camera installed near Jade’s bed, which was discovered on her 16th birthday. Her mother confronted Darlington about the device, to which he claimed it was installed to monitor whether Jade was being sexually active with potential boyfriends. Despite disconnecting the camera, Darlington kept the memory card containing videos of Jade.

Jade Walsh, the victim, provided a poignant victim impact statement, questioning Darlington’s motives and expressing her distress over the betrayal of trust. She wondered what his true intentions might have been during the time she lived with him, especially when she might have shown him affection like a hug or a kiss.

In addition to the recordings of Jade, Darlington was found to have subscribed to websites that provided access to illegal images of children, including photographs of girls as young as six, some in provocative poses, both naked and clothed in bikinis or underwear. His defense lawyer acknowledged his client’s unhealthy obsession but reiterated that he was a man of previously good character who had fallen into a dark and disturbing pattern of behavior.

Judge Rhys Rowlands condemned Darlington’s conduct as ‘serious and disturbing,’ emphasizing the breach of trust and the depraved nature of his actions. He ordered Darlington to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and imposed a ten-year SOPO to prevent further offenses. The judge described the collection of images as ‘quite depraved,’ highlighting the particularly disturbing nature of some of the material involving very young children and the victim’s stepdaughter.

Following the sentencing, Jade Walsh expressed her outrage, stating, ‘I’m livid with the sentence. He should have got five to ten years. It’s definitely not long enough after everything he’s put our family through.’ The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Rhyl, raising serious concerns about privacy, trust, and the protection of minors from exploitation and abuse.