MARTIN HARNESS CAUGHT IN HULL AND GRIMSBY: CHILD ABUSER PURSUED THROUGH STREETS
In February 2013, a disturbing incident unfolded in the city of Hull, involving a man named Martin Harness, who was caught in the act of sexually abusing a young boy in a car park.The incident was witnessed by a vigilant couple, Elliott Cox and Sharon Thompson, who took immediate action to ensure the suspect was brought to justice.
According to reports, Cox and Thompson, residents of west Hull, were in their Subaru Impreza when they observed Harness engaging in inappropriate behavior with a boy in a vehicle parked behind the wholesale store Makro on St Andrew’s Quay.
The couple saw Harness touching and kissing the boy, with the man’s actions clearly indicating sexual misconduct.
Shocked and appalled by what they saw, they quickly contacted the police, providing them with the vehicle’s registration details.
However, before the authorities could arrive, Harness started his engine and drove away with the boy still seated in the passenger seat.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Cox and Thompson decided to follow the suspect’s car in their own vehicle, determined not to let him escape.
Mr Cox, aged 45, recounted, “Harness didn’t even see us, but my lass and I saw what went on and what we saw in that car park sickened us both.
We called the police and gave them the car’s registration plate, but then the guy started the engine and moved off.
We knew we had to follow.” Thompson, a mother of six, was asked by the police operator if they could continue following the suspect’s vehicle.
She was instructed to provide a running commentary on the streets the car was traveling through.
She did so, naming streets and landmarks as they pursued Harness, which allowed police to track his movements effectively.
Mr Cox explained, “They said, ‘Can you follow the vehicle and give us a running commentary on the streets he is going down?’” After approximately a mile and a half of pursuit, the couple’s efforts paid off when they spotted police officers near Asda on Hessle Road.
The officers quickly intervened, physically removing Harness from his vehicle with the help of three officers.
Cox described the scene, saying, “That kid had a look of fear.
He didn’t want to be sitting there.” It was later revealed that Harness, who resides at Tennyson House in Grimsby, had a history of inappropriate conduct with a boy under 16.
The court heard that Harness had known the boy for several years, having encountered him by chance at his flat in Hull.
During this encounter, Harness had pushed the teenager against a wall, kissed him on the lips, and inserted his tongue into the boy’s mouth.
The boy attempted to push Harness away and subsequently ran off.
Despite this, Harness later became a friend of the boy’s family, which led to a second incident in Hull.
Prosecutor Richard Woolfall told Hull Crown Court that Harness’s actions constituted serious sexual offenses.
The court was informed that the incidents caused significant distress to the victims, including Sharon Thompson, who was deeply upset by what she witnessed.
She expressed her emotional turmoil, noting that she has a son around the same age as the boy involved and has struggled to sleep since witnessing the events.
In court, Patrick Palmer, representing Harness, emphasized that his client had no previous convictions and found it difficult to accept the sexual nature of his behavior.
Palmer stated, “It has brought him a good deal of shame.
He is finding it very hard to face up to what he has done.
He has learned his lesson.” Judge Eric Elliott QC commended Cox and Thompson for their courageous actions, awarding each of them £250 from public funds as a token of appreciation.
Harness was sentenced to a three-year supervision order, which includes participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program.
Additionally, he was issued a five-year sexual offences prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender for five years.
Mr Cox expressed his mixed feelings about the outcome, saying, “I would have liked to have seen him go to prison.
But at least he is going to be kept under close supervision for the next three years.” The case highlights the importance of vigilant citizens in protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that justice is served in cases of sexual abuse.
