FORMER POLICE OFFICER MARTIN KIFT FROM ISLANDMAGEE, NORTHERN IRELAND, FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

In a significant legal case that has drawn considerable attention in Northern Ireland, a former police officer named Martin Kift, aged 44 and residing in Middleton Park, Islandmagee, has been convicted of serious criminal offenses involving indecent assault and attempting to obstruct justice. The verdict was reached unanimously by the jury after a detailed and emotionally charged trial held at Belfast Crown Court.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Kift had engaged in a pattern of inappropriate and abusive behavior towards a woman over a period of time. The court heard that Kift, who once served as a constable, had inflicted psychological trauma on his victim through a series of disturbing actions. Among these was his showing her photographs of her son, who had tragically taken his own life by hanging from a rope in 2002. Kift also touched her inappropriately during these encounters, adding to the trauma she endured.

The court was informed that Kift had attempted to manipulate the woman by persuading her to identify her son's body while it lay in a mortuary. He repeatedly raised the subject of her viewing photographs taken at the scene of her son's death, eventually showing her some images and a copy of the post-mortem examination report. These actions were described as deeply invasive and psychologically damaging.

Furthermore, the jury learned that Kift's misconduct extended beyond these initial interactions. Over the course of the following year, he made numerous unwelcome visits to her home and phone calls, totaling nine instances of indecent assault. It was alleged that during each of these encounters, Kift would sit beside her with his hand placed on her upper, inner thigh, make inappropriate comments about her breasts, and upon leaving, would often hug and kiss her in a manner that was clearly unwelcome and inappropriate.

When Kift's behavior was eventually brought to light in August 2003, he attempted to cover his tracks by writing an anonymous letter. In this letter, he claimed it was penned by a colleague and expressed feelings of suicidal ideation. He also warned the woman to consider the potential consequences of her complaint, indicating an attempt to intimidate or manipulate her into silence.

During his own testimony in court, Kift claimed that his actions were at the woman's request and insisted that he had never touched her inappropriately. However, the jury found his defense unconvincing, and on Wednesday, he was convicted on all counts of indecent assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Mr. Justice Higgins, presiding over the case, ordered Kift to register as a sex offender and set a date for sentencing after psychiatric and probation reports are prepared. Although Kift was released on bail following his conviction, the judge emphasized that this release was not indicative of the final sentencing outcome, underscoring the seriousness of the crimes committed by the former police officer in Islandmagee, Northern Ireland.