WILLIAM MARTIN FROM ASHINGTON AND BLYTH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Ashington and Blyth, William Martin, aged 28, has been sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of a young girl aged just seven years old. The incident, which took place in the Ashington area in 2008, only came to light several years later, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

According to court proceedings, the victim was asleep at the time of the assault when Martin subjected her to inappropriate and disgraceful abuse. After the attack, Martin warned the young girl not to disclose what had happened, attempting to silence her from revealing the crime. Despite his threats, the girl confided in her mother the following day, which prompted immediate concern and distress within the family.

Gavin Doig, the prosecutor, detailed the young girl’s lack of understanding about the severity of the situation, explaining that she was so young she did not realize her experience was wrong. Mr. Doig stated, “She was told by the defendant not to tell anyone, however, she told her mother the following day. Her mother immediately became upset and told the girl what was being suggested was wrong.”

During police interviews, the girl explained that she initially believed her experience was just a bad dream, as she did not comprehend the gravity of what had happened. Her family chose to dismiss the incident as a nightmare at the time, and no further action was taken immediately. It was only in 2011 that police were informed of the assault, leading to Martin’s arrest.

At the time of his arrest, William Martin, who resides on Shelley Crescent in Blyth, initially denied any wrongdoing. However, he later pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault. The court heard that Martin had a prior conviction for indecent assault on adults when he was just 14 years old, indicating a troubling history of inappropriate behavior.

In sentencing, Newcastle Crown Court handed Martin a 32-month prison term. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from being alone with children. These measures are designed to protect the public from any potential future harm.

During the hearing, the defense lawyer, Joe Hedworth, described Martin as “an utterly broken man,” emphasizing the emotional toll the case has taken on him. Hedworth explained, “He has expressed feelings of deep hatred for himself and will have to live with that for the rest of his life. He understands how wrong his behaviour was and is genuinely sorry for that.”

Hedworth also revealed that on the night Martin admitted to the offence, he was forced to leave his family home due to serious threats made by his own brother. The once-strong sibling bond had deteriorated, and Martin had also received various threats on social networking sites, further complicating his personal circumstances and mental state.