MARTIN CASEY SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN HEYWOOD AND MANCHESTER

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Heywood and the surrounding areas, Martin Casey, aged 41, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for heinous sexual offenses involving young girls. The crimes, which took place between July and November 2003, involved Casey befriending single mothers in Heywood, earning their trust, and then exploiting that trust to commit acts of sexual abuse against their daughters.

One of the victims was only seven years old at the time, and Casey's predatory behavior extended to filming two of the children during the abuse. The police compiled a collection of this disturbing footage, which was shown privately to Judge Martin Rudland before he delivered the sentence at Manchester Crown Court. The severity of the crimes was underscored by the evidence presented, including the videos and photographs seized during the investigation.

Casey, who had moved to Heywood five years prior to his arrest, pleaded guilty to six separate charges, including indecent assault, gross indecency, and the taking of indecent photographs. These offenses occurred over a span of several months, and the victims, aged between seven and ten, were taken on trips to baths and Blackpool without supervision, raising serious concerns about the level of trust placed in Casey by the families.

Prosecutor Julian Taylor highlighted that Casey had managed to conceal his past from the victims' mothers, who had no suspicion of his previous convictions. It was revealed that Casey had a prior conviction for sexually abusing children aged between five and eight, which resulted in a 42-month prison sentence in 1996. This history of offending made his current crimes even more troubling.

Following Casey's arrest, his home on Duke Street was subjected to acts of vandalism, with residents stoning the property and damaging his vehicle. Additionally, a shed in his backyard was set on fire, reflecting the community's outrage and fear.

A mother of one of the victims expressed her feelings of betrayal and regret, stating,