MINSTER MAN MARTIN STOWER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRL

In July 2009, a disturbing case unfolded in Maidstone Crown Court involving Martin Stower, a resident of Stiles Close in Minster, who was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of grooming a teenage girl for sexual activity. The court heard that Stower, aged 41 at the time, had engaged in a series of inappropriate and illegal actions aimed at a minor, which led to his conviction on five charges related to causing or inciting a child to participate in sexual acts.

Members of the victim’s family expressed their relief upon hearing the verdict, though they also conveyed a sense of ongoing concern. They described feeling devastated by Stower’s exploitation of the girl and emphasized the importance of justice being served. One family member remarked, “Although this sentence is relatively light, I’m glad he has gone to prison. It will teach him a hard lesson but I’m worried he will still be a risk to young girls. It’s a relief the case is over and we’re now beginning to put it all behind us.”

The court proceedings revealed that Stower had taken a disturbing interest in the teenage girl, with the prosecution, led by Trevor Wright, outlining that Stower had expressed love for the girl and even spoke about moving in with her once she reached the age of consent, which was 16. The criminal activities came to light after the girl, feeling uncomfortable, confided in a friend about the inappropriate relationship.

Initially, Stower denied any sexual involvement with the girl. However, when DNA evidence was presented, he admitted that intercourse had occurred on one occasion. He claimed that the girl had invited him to have sex, and he had succumbed to her advances. Prosecutor Trevor Wright criticized this defense, stating, “To put it another way, it was not a 41-year-old man’s fault, it was a 15-year-old child’s fault.”

Further evidence showed that Stower had engaged in sexual activity with the girl on five separate occasions. His defense lawyer, Marie Spenwyn, highlighted that Stower was a father of five children and was expecting another. She argued that his actions should not be viewed as a typical case of an older man exploiting a minor, but she acknowledged that no justification could be made for his behavior. “He got caught up in this relationship. This is how it was perceived by him at the time quite wrongly,” she stated.

Judge Philip Statman addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of the offense. He stated, “The bottom line is this: You were the adult and she was under 16 years of age. There was a degree of grooming. When found out, there was no immediate admission of guilt.” The judge also noted that Stower was generally a hardworking man, but his sexual proclivities had come to light, warranting serious punishment. As part of his sentence, Stower was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and disqualified from working with children. The judge expressed hope that Stower would receive appropriate sex offender treatment to address his behavior.