EASTLEIGH PAEDOPHILE MARTIN MANN'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN EASTLEIGH AND COLLES CLOSE

In August 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Martin Edward Manns, a 59-year-old resident of Twyford Road, Eastleigh, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses against minors. The incident came to light when Manns was found to have sent explicit photographs of himself in the bath to a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a revelation that shocked the local community.

It was later revealed that Manns had been engaging in online communications with minors through fake profiles. During one such interaction, he created a profile under the name ‘Up for it’ and initiated contact with a 13-year-old girl named Mabel H via the website Chatiw. Unbeknownst to Manns, the profile he was speaking to was controlled by a group of paedophile hunters working to expose predators. Despite this, Manns continued his attempts to communicate with minors, demonstrating a disturbing pattern of behavior.

Further investigations uncovered that Manns had arranged to meet a fictional teenage girl at the Lidl store located in Coles Close, Eastleigh. Surveillance footage showed him in the store’s car park, using his phone, before he was followed back to his residence by police officers. This evidence was crucial in building the case against him.

At Southampton Crown Court, Manns faced charges of deliberately attempting to communicate with a child under 16 for sexual gratification and attempting to meet a girl under 16 with the intent of engaging in sexual activity. Manns pleaded guilty to these charges, which spanned from September of the previous year through June of this year.

Judge Christopher Parker QC addressed the court, emphasizing the grave danger Manns posed to young girls and the broader community. He stated that Manns represented a significant risk of causing serious harm and was a danger to the public at large. As a result, Manns was sentenced to five years in prison. Upon his release, he will be subject to a two-year license period, during which he must adhere to strict conditions.

Additionally, Manns is required to register as a sex offender indefinitely and will be under a sexual harm prevention order until further notice. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online predation and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation, especially in communities like Eastleigh where such incidents have now come to light.