MARTIN LOCKE OF FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE SENTENCED FOR VILE CHILD SEX OFFENCES
| Red Rose Database
Hythe Folkestone Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Folkestone and Hythe, Martin Locke, a 64-year-old former deputy head teacher and foster carer, was handed a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of a series of heinous child sex offences. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of depravity that spanned several years, involving the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, sexual assaults, and arrangements for child sex acts.
Locke, who resided at Tanner Hill Gardens in Hythe, had previously been regarded as a respectable figure in the community, having dedicated his career to education and later fostering vulnerable children. However, beneath this facade, he engaged in a secret world of perversion, which was uncovered through an undercover police operation. The investigation uncovered a trove of evidence, including explicit images and disturbing communications.
During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Adele Williams condemned Locke’s actions, emphasizing the betrayal of trust and the severity of his crimes. She stated, “You were a teacher all your life and after retiring you became a foster carer. To all intents and purposes, you were an upstanding citizen held in high regard. In fact, you were committing these vile offences against children. The shocking abuse of trust which you have displayed is a very serious matter. You have a perverted, deviant sexual interest in children and you have acted on those interests. You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to children in the future.”
Prosecutor Simon Taylor detailed the extent of Locke’s depravity, revealing that police had raided his home and seized an Acer laptop, which contained evidence of Locke posing as an alias, Micky Green, to access illicit images and videos. Among the disturbing findings was a message from Locke describing an incident involving a child who had stayed at his home, where he took photographs of her while she slept. Further examination of his mobile devices uncovered 13 images of a girl approximately 12 years old, which social services later identified as a girl who had stayed at Locke’s residence for a few days.
Locke’s criminal activities extended beyond possession of images. He was found to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl placed in his care during an assessment of his suitability as a foster parent. Additionally, he paid a teenage girl in his care fifty pounds for images of her in her bra and underwear. The court also heard that Locke had offered to bring a young child to meet what he believed were paedophiles, intending to leave her with them and observe.
Further evidence revealed that Locke had secretly taken upskirt photographs of two unsuspecting schoolgirls at a local supermarket. He also admitted to removing a pair of pants from one of the girls in his care and meeting with a like-minded individual in Maidstone on two occasions, where they placed the clothing on their heads to sniff and lick. These acts underscore the extent of Locke’s perversion and his willingness to exploit vulnerable children.
As a result of his convictions, Locke was ordered to serve a 10-year prison sentence, with an additional four years on extended licence upon release. He was also banned from working with children under 18 for life and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. The court’s verdict underscores the gravity of his crimes and the betrayal of trust inherent in his roles as both educator and foster carer, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Locke to the safety and well-being of children in the community.
Locke, who resided at Tanner Hill Gardens in Hythe, had previously been regarded as a respectable figure in the community, having dedicated his career to education and later fostering vulnerable children. However, beneath this facade, he engaged in a secret world of perversion, which was uncovered through an undercover police operation. The investigation uncovered a trove of evidence, including explicit images and disturbing communications.
During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Adele Williams condemned Locke’s actions, emphasizing the betrayal of trust and the severity of his crimes. She stated, “You were a teacher all your life and after retiring you became a foster carer. To all intents and purposes, you were an upstanding citizen held in high regard. In fact, you were committing these vile offences against children. The shocking abuse of trust which you have displayed is a very serious matter. You have a perverted, deviant sexual interest in children and you have acted on those interests. You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to children in the future.”
Prosecutor Simon Taylor detailed the extent of Locke’s depravity, revealing that police had raided his home and seized an Acer laptop, which contained evidence of Locke posing as an alias, Micky Green, to access illicit images and videos. Among the disturbing findings was a message from Locke describing an incident involving a child who had stayed at his home, where he took photographs of her while she slept. Further examination of his mobile devices uncovered 13 images of a girl approximately 12 years old, which social services later identified as a girl who had stayed at Locke’s residence for a few days.
Locke’s criminal activities extended beyond possession of images. He was found to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl placed in his care during an assessment of his suitability as a foster parent. Additionally, he paid a teenage girl in his care fifty pounds for images of her in her bra and underwear. The court also heard that Locke had offered to bring a young child to meet what he believed were paedophiles, intending to leave her with them and observe.
Further evidence revealed that Locke had secretly taken upskirt photographs of two unsuspecting schoolgirls at a local supermarket. He also admitted to removing a pair of pants from one of the girls in his care and meeting with a like-minded individual in Maidstone on two occasions, where they placed the clothing on their heads to sniff and lick. These acts underscore the extent of Locke’s perversion and his willingness to exploit vulnerable children.
As a result of his convictions, Locke was ordered to serve a 10-year prison sentence, with an additional four years on extended licence upon release. He was also banned from working with children under 18 for life and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. The court’s verdict underscores the gravity of his crimes and the betrayal of trust inherent in his roles as both educator and foster carer, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by individuals like Locke to the safety and well-being of children in the community.