Locations
Crestline Court, Northampton, West Northamptonshire, NN3
Description
A man found guilty of the sexual abuse of young girls has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, after the brave survivors revealed his repeated assaults.
Martin Prior, aged 36, targeted the children in the mid to late 2000s, but it wasn’t until 2020 that his offending came to light, when the survivors disclosed his abuse to police officers as part of a separate investigation.
As a result, Northamptonshire Police’s Child Protection team began an investigation into Prior, identifying at least three victims.
Prior, of Crestline Court, Northampton, went on to be charged with one count of rape of a girl under 13, six counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, one count of sexual assault of a female, and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration.
Following a trial at Northampton Crown Court, on May 8 Prior was found not guilty of the rape and sexual assault of a female charges but found guilty of the remaining seven offences.
On Friday, June 27, he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison. Prior will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Prior was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, designed to prevent future offending, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Laura Beeby said: “Martin Prior is a sexual predator, who as an adult deliberately targeted children for his own sexual gratification.
“All of these children were vulnerable due to their age, and the repeated abuse Prior subjected them to has caused them significant and lasting harm and distress.
“Their courage in finally revealing Prior’s abhorrent offending cannot be overstated, and it is thanks to their bravery that he has been proven to be an abuser and a liar.
“The only shame and guilt in a case like this lies with the offender, and I hope this outcome can provide some small comfort to the survivors as they continue to heal.”