MICHAEL EVANS FROM GRANTHAM AND MARGATE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND IDENTITY FRAUD

In a case that spanned over 25 years, Michael Evans, a man originally from Grantham who later resided in Margate, Kent, has finally been brought to justice for a series of serious criminal offenses, including multiple counts of sexual assault and perverting the course of justice. The lengthy legal proceedings revealed a disturbing history of abuse, deception, and evasion that kept Evans out of the reach of law enforcement for more than two decades.

The story begins in May 1988, when Evans, then known as Michael Kime, fled his home in Grantham just days before he was scheduled to appear in Lincoln Crown Court to face charges related to a sexual assault on a young girl. His disappearance prompted the issuance of a warrant for his arrest, but despite efforts to locate him, Evans managed to evade capture for over 25 years. During this period, he adopted a new identity, stealing the birth and marriage certificates of his then-partner’s husband, Martyn Foster, to facilitate his continued evasion.

Evans, who was 62 at the time of sentencing, had been convicted of ten counts of sexual assault that occurred in the Grantham area between 1983 and 1988. He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice, a charge that stemmed from his efforts to conceal his identity and avoid prosecution. The court heard that Evans, after fleeing, worked various farm jobs across the South East of England, often earning cash-in-hand, and used Foster’s personal documents to obtain a passport. This passport enabled him to travel to Crete, where he worked picking olives during the off-season in Kent.

Further investigations uncovered that Evans had used Foster’s identity to pass his driving test and obtain a license under Foster’s name. This license was then used to facilitate his work on farms, and the couple later legally changed their names by deed poll to Evans. These actions were part of a broader pattern of deception aimed at avoiding detection and accountability for his past crimes.

The case was reopened in 2012 after police conducted a cold case review into the disappearance of Susan Foster, Martyn Foster’s wife, who had gone missing in May 1988. During this review, authorities discovered that Evans and Susan were still living together in the South East of England, and that Evans was, in fact, the man on the run. The original court documents and statements had been lost over the years, but police managed to locate the victim, who was then in her late 30s, and she provided a new statement confirming her earlier allegations of abuse starting from when she was just eight years old.

In December 2013, Evans was finally detained and remanded in custody. His trial at Lincoln Crown Court revealed the extent of his criminal conduct, which included two counts of attempted rape, six counts of indecent assault, and two counts of indecency with a child. Evans, who denied all charges, was convicted on all counts. His wife, Susan Evans, also 61, was found to have played a role in helping him evade justice. She admitted to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between 1988 and 2013, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years. The court acknowledged that she was not the main perpetrator but had taken a serious part in assisting Evans.

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Gareth Evans QC described the victim’s testimony as “heart-breaking” and emphasized the controlling and abusive nature of Evans. The judge stated, “You are a controlling man. You used and abused this girl for your own sexual purposes. You then disappeared for 25 years. It was a matter of luck that they found you and brought you to trial. The jury convicted you. They did not believe what you said. They did believe the girl. It is quite clear she is damaged by what you did to her. I have no doubt that a substantial prison sentence is what is required.”

DC Nigel Smith, the senior investigating officer, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The offences Evans carried out were truly awful, aggravated even more by the fact that he decided to go on the run rather than face up to the crimes he committed all those years ago. I am pleased with the sentence given to him by the judge today and hope that seeing him brought to justice offers some solace to his victim and some closure after 25 years. I also hope it shows others that the police never stop working to bring to justice those who have acted unlawfully. If you have been a victim of a crime similar to this, it is never too late to report it. If you are an offender who has carried out similar horrendous crimes, be assured that the police will catch up with you and ensure that you are held accountable.”