WAREHOUSEMAN WHO PREYED ON A YOUNG GIRL JAILED
Martin Gorman, who is now 54 years old, committed his criminal acts more than twenty years ago.He only entered a guilty plea during his second trial this year, after initially resisting at his first trial.
Gorman’s initial court hearing in 2023 was halted due to issues with disclosure of evidence, prompting Bradford Crown Court to recount that the victim had to undergo pre-trial cross-examination twice.
The subsequent trial commenced in April, during which Gorman, of Springfield Road, Elland, changed his plea to guilty, acknowledging two counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged under 13.
The woman, who describes herself as a survivor, attended the sentencing hearing and delivered a powerful victim impact statement.
She detailed her years-long struggle to be heard and described the abuse as having left “a massive scar.” She expressed that Gorman had robbed her of her childhood and that she sought justice.
In a statement read aloud by prosecutor Jayne Beckett, the woman whose identity must remain confidential stated she finally felt heard and hoped her sentencing would bring her closure.
She revealed she had been in a daze for the last four years and now wished to recover and move forward.
The court heard that Gorman previously told a pre-sentence report author that he regretted the crimes and was ashamed of his conduct.
The judge, Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC, sentenced Gorman to 14 years and three months in prison, adding an extra year on licence due to the seriousness of the offences.
He acknowledged the victim’s account of the “horrific” abuse and the long-lasting impact it had.
The judge also highlighted that the victim had summoned the courage to report the abuse to police in 2020, which marked the start of the investigation.
It was noted that the psychological damage inflicted was severe.
Gorman faces nearly a decade behind bars before being considered for parole, and he is now required to register as a sex offender for life.
