CARL MARTIN JAILED FOR 24 YEARS IN LLANRWST FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF FOUR GIRLS OVER THREE DECADES

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Llanrwst, Carl Alan Martin, the 58-year-old pub landlord of the Red Lion, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 24 years for the sexual abuse of four young girls spanning over thirty years. The conviction follows a detailed trial held at Mold Crown Court in March, where Martin faced serious allegations that had been brought against him after years of silence and delayed reporting.

Martin had initially denied all 18 charges brought before him, which included one count of rape. The charges pertained to offenses committed against four different children, all under the age of 13 at various times from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of 15 of these charges, while acquitting him of two counts of indecency with a child and one count of indecent assault. The court had postponed sentencing until today to review pre-sentence reports and consider the full context of the case.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Rhys Rowlands expressed a stern view of Martin’s attitude, noting that the defendant had shown no remorse or contrition for his actions. The judge emphasized that the severity of the crimes was not lessened by the fact that Martin had chosen to stand trial rather than plead guilty. “The trial does not make these offences more serious but there can’t be any reduction in the length of the sentence I am about to impose as there would have been had you pleaded guilty,” Judge Rowlands stated.

He further highlighted that Martin’s lack of remorse was evident both from the pre-sentence report and his conduct during the trial. “Quite the opposite, you sought to prolong matters by standing trial and maintained your denials,” the judge remarked. The four victims, now adults, demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience by giving evidence in court, with one describing her experience as leaving her an “emotional wreck.” The judge acknowledged the profound impact the abuse had on their lives, noting that their testimonies revealed how Martin’s actions had robbed them of their innocence and childhoods over a sustained period.

Judge Rowlands also pointed out that the victims’ courage in recounting their experiences was commendable, especially considering their young ages at the time of the abuse. He observed that the victims’ accounts, accepted by the jury, painted a disturbing picture of ongoing exploitation. The court heard that although the abuse was reported to friends and family at the time, it was only many years later that the victims felt able to come forward and report the crimes to police.

Martin’s defense team, led by Nerida Hartford-Bell, presented character references to the court, emphasizing that he had no previous convictions and suggesting that there was no evidence of further offending in the past 15 or 16 years. The defense also highlighted that Martin’s character appeared to have a different side, which contrasted with the serious allegations.

Prosecutor Matthew Curtis pointed out to the jury that there were “similarities to the defendant’s pattern of offending,” noting that Martin had deliberately created opportunities to be alone with each victim separately. The jury was told that one victim retained clear, vivid memories of the abuse, while others’ recollections were described as more “sketchy.”

It was also revealed that although the victims had initially confided in friends and family at the time of the abuse, it was only years later that the crimes were formally reported to the police. Martin maintained his innocence throughout, claiming that the offences “simply did not happen” and denying any inappropriate contact with the complainants.

As part of his sentence, Martin will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his prison term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he will spend an extended three-year license period upon release. The court also ordered that Martin be banned from working with children and vulnerable adults and that he must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.