Child rapist Liam Martin sentenced to 20 years in prison

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 16:02 · Archive

Liam Martin, 33, has been jailed for 20 years after being convicted of repeatedly raping a child over several years.

Liam Martin, 33, of Cross Fell, Redcar, was sentenced to 20 years in prison plus a one-year extended licence period after being found guilty of repeatedly raping a girl. The abuse took place over a prolonged period, and the victim did not report the attacks until years later.

Recorder Andrew Dallas told Martin: 'You embarked on a systematic course of serious sexual abuse. You forced yourself upon her having ignored her refusal and raped her.' The victim said in a statement that the abuse had 'stolen my childhood' and left her struggling to leave home after reporting the attacks to police, as she feared flashbacks.

Martin was placed on a sexual harm prevention order. Detective Constable Melanie Phelps, the officer in the case, said: 'It took a great deal of bravery for this survivor to come forward and report what they'd gone through as a child.' She added that the victim had been offered specialist support during the police investigation and that Martin would be closely monitored by specialist officers even after his eventual release from prison, as he is now on the sex offenders' register.

How it is being reported

• Child rapist given 20-year prison sentence after leaving vulnerable victim 'traumatised'Liam Martin, 33, carried out repeated sexual assaults and rapes on a childTeessideLive · 19 Oct, 15:50
• Sick child rapist who targeted girl jailed for 20 yearsLiam Martin jailed for 20 years at Teesside Crown Court after repeatedly raping a girl during a five-year campaign of child sexual abuse.The Northern Echo · 19 Oct, 15:27

In this story: Liam Martin · Teesside Crown Court · Redcar · Cleveland Police

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