DORSET PAEDOPHILE RING: ROBERT MARTI, KEVIN CARPENTER, LUKE JAMES, AND DAVID COXHEAD SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEX OFFENCES IN BOURNEMOUTH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bournemouth and the wider Dorset area, four men have been found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences committed over more than a decade. The defendants, Robert Marti, Kevin Carpenter, Luke James, and David Coxhead, were convicted after a detailed and complex two-month trial that revealed the extent of their depravity. A judge described them as “dangerous and depraved,” emphasizing the severity of their crimes and the threat they pose to society.

Kevin Carpenter, aged 49 and residing on St Swithun’s Road in Bournemouth, was sentenced to serve a minimum of 12 years in prison. Robert Marti, 56, of Haviland Mews in Boscombe, received a sentence of at least nine years. Both men were convicted of numerous sexual offences against young boys, including rape, sexual activity with a child, and inciting or causing sexual acts with minors. The court heard graphic details of their misconduct, which included the possession and creation of indecent images, some of which depicted abuse. When the verdicts were announced, there was an emotional response from the victims’ families and friends, with cheers echoing through the courtroom.

Luke James, aged 36, of Charminster Road in Bournemouth, had previously pleaded guilty to charges including possession of indecent images, indecent assault, and other serious sexual offences before the trial concluded. He was subsequently sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Meanwhile, David Coxhead, aged 52 and now residing in Severn Beach, Avon and Somerset, was convicted of nine offences, including indecency with children and other serious sexual crimes. Coxhead, who was once involved in Dorset Angling in Boscombe, was reported to police after victims read about the case in the Daily Echo. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

The case was initiated after two brave 14-year-old boys came forward to speak about their experiences, sparking a major investigation by Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, known as Operation Cobalt. The investigation uncovered more than 20 victims over the years, revealing a disturbing pattern of grooming and exploitation. Prosecutors described the defendants as paedophiles who sought sexual gratification by targeting vulnerable boys, often offering money or drugs in exchange for sexual acts. These boys, described as easy targets due to their backgrounds or lack of positive adult influences, were groomed and manipulated into participating in abuse, sometimes even being turned into “rent boys.”

The court heard that the abuse took place in various locations, including the defendants’ homes, a local shop, an amusement arcade, and outdoor areas such as Queens Park. The prosecution emphasized that the defendants believed they could act with impunity, thinking their victims would not be believed or would be too ashamed to report the crimes. The case has shed light on the dark underbelly of exploitation within the community, prompting calls for increased vigilance and support for vulnerable youth in Dorset and beyond.