DOMESTIC ABUSER JAILED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL HIS PARTNER AND BURNING HER FAMILY’S HOUSE DOWN
A man convicted of domestic violence, who threatened to kill the mother of his three children and set her family's house on fire, has been sentenced to prison.However, the father of Martin Creed’s victim expressed dissatisfaction, stating that “justice has not been done,” after Creed admitted to abusing his partner of eight years in a caravan at Shurland Holiday Park on Sheppey.
The 33-year-old man, residing on Musgrave Road in Sittingbourne, received his sentence in Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (March 27) for his “horrendous” offenses.
Court proceedings revealed that Creed had estranged his victim from her family for over three years, causing her mother to fear she might never see her again.
On May 9 last year, during a chance meeting in Eastchurch, the victim encountered her father and brother who had been looking for her after losing contact.
Her father told KentOnline that his daughter and her children were “dirty, starving, and infested with lice,” leading him to give her £50 to purchase food, and he asked her to meet her mother on May 12.
When she informed Creed of the meeting on May 11, he responded with a “torrent of abuse,” as described by prosecutor Alexa Le-Moine during the hearing.
Creed threatened to kill her and to burn down her caravan and her family’s home, according to the court.
He assaulted her physically, pulling her by the hair across the living room floor with enough force to tear out some of her hair, leaving bald patches.
Later, he slapped her and attacked her in the garden, all while their three young children aged six, four, and one were present inside the caravan.
The court heard that during the assault, the children were screaming, and the victim thought she would die, fearing for her children’s safety.
She managed to escape and ran nearly three miles barefoot to her brother’s house in Minster, arriving around 6 am on May 12.
Police were called, and Creed was detained.
Within three days of being released on police bail, Creed violated its terms by accessing the victim’s social media accounts, unblocking himself, and sending her messages, as well as visiting her home.
This breach led to his arrest and remand in custody.
He faced charges including assault causing actual bodily harm, threats to kill with children present, and stalking causing serious alarm or distress.
Creed, who had three prior convictions related to driving offenses, pleaded guilty to the charges on the day his trial was scheduled to begin, which was initially set for December 15.
He was also charged with intentional strangulation and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, but those charges were left on file.
The court highlighted that Creed failed to spend his money on essentials like electricity, gas, or food, instead spending on “alcohol, cocaine, and gambling.” During the sentencing, the victim and her family attended as prosecutor Le-Moine read her impact statement.
In her statement, she expressed that Creed’s actions had inflicted deep emotional pain, stating, “You will never understand the damage and pain you have done to my children and me,” and shared her struggle to recover from the trauma.
She described how her confidence, independence, and employment were shattered by Creed, but affirmed her determination to rebuild her life with her children.
Judge Robert Lazarus sentenced Creed to two years and two months in prison, with a standard release after serving 40% of the sentence.
Given his previous time served, he is expected to be released in 20 days.
Creed is also subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with the victim and her family, and he will only be able to see his children once they turn 18.
The judge remarked on the severity of Creed’s assault, including physical injuries on the victim and a lasting disrespect towards women, particularly criticising his coercive control over her.
Following sentencing, the victim’s father said that he believed “justice was not enough,” criticising the relatively light sentence and emphasising the lasting impact on his daughter.
He expressed frustration with the justice system, noting the disparity between the time Creed served and his daughter’s suffering, and pledged to fund private therapy for her and the children.
He concluded by condemning Creed, calling him an “animal” and urging that he not harm anyone else’s daughter.
