Martin Jackson 46

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Sexual abuse survivors praised for bravery as abuser jailed for 24 years

Martin Jackson, 46, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being convicted of abusing school-aged girls in Sunderland, including threatening one with a knife after raping her.

The victims told a family member what had happened, and Northumbria Police were contacted. Jackson was questioned shortly afterwards and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Following what police called “a complex investigation” by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, he was charged in September 2024 with multiple child sexual offences.

In December last year, Jackson, of Seymour Street, North Shields, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of 17 counts: five of sexual assault on a child, four of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and eight of rape.

He appeared back before the same court on Monday (February 2) and was jailed for 24 years, with a further year on licence. He will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Victim impact statements described the lasting damage to their mental health, including anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD that continues to this day.

One victim said the abuse “haunts” her daily:

“When I leave the house or go to work, it comes back like a train plummeting at me.

“When I’m at home, I am alone with the flashbacks of the abuse. It is constantly repeating in my head, as if it were still happening. You would think my escape would be sleep, however, every single night I jolt awake from those nightmares that was my life for several years.”

Detective Constable Gavin James, who led the investigation, said:

“Martin Jackson is a sexual predator and a paedophile who preyed upon his young victims for his own sexual gratification.

“It is clear to me that he wanted to have control over the girls, even making threats if they were ever to speak out against him.

“While no outcome at court will ever take away from what has happened, I do hope this significant jail term will bring a sense of comfort to both survivors that their abuser is now behind bars.”

He added:

“Above all else, I would especially like to commend the bravery of both victims involved. They have both shown immense courage in coming forward about the non-recent abuse they suffered at the hands of Jackson, and I wish them well in their journey forward.

“My advice to anyone out there who has read this and can sadly relate to our survivors’ stories of abuse, is to open up to whoever you can if possible and remember that your local police force is here for you.”