MARTIN BREEZE FROM BROTTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN REDCAR & CLEVELAND

In December 2016, Martin Breeze, a 49-year-old man from Brotton in Redcar & Cleveland, was handed down a significant prison sentence after being convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of young girls. Breeze had consistently denied all allegations during his trial at Teesside Crown Court, forcing the victims to recount their traumatic experiences in a court setting, reliving the abuse under intense scrutiny.

The court proceedings revealed that Breeze's offending began when one of his victims was only eight years old. The abuse was brought to light after one of the girls, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, confided in her mother about the assaults. This disclosure prompted an investigation that uncovered disturbing details about Breeze’s actions.

The victim’s mother described the profound impact the abuse had on her daughter, stating that her child had undergone a complete personality change. She became increasingly angry, tearful, and was plagued by nightmares. The girl was reluctant to discuss her experiences or seek therapy, which added to her mother’s distress. In a statement read aloud in court, the mother expressed her ongoing anguish, saying, “I don’t think I’ve had a decent sleep since this happened. I’m now on medication for anxiety. He has wrecked our family.”

The investigation expanded when a second girl came forward with allegations against Breeze, further corroborating the initial claims. Although Breeze was convicted by a jury of abusing two girls, additional victims also provided evidence during the trial, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior.

At the time of sentencing, Breeze, who was employed at the Skinningrove steelworks, was ordered to serve a minimum of six years in prison. Recognizing the severity and nature of his crimes, the court designated him as an “offender of particular concern,” which resulted in an additional year on license following his release. This extended his total sentence to nearly ten years. Furthermore, Breeze was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from working with children or having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16, aiming to prevent any future harm and protect the community from potential reoffending.