LOUTHBOROUGH PAEDOPHILE MARTIN TODD'S SHOCKING CRIMES NEAR CHILDREN'S HOMES

In a series of disturbing incidents that have sent shockwaves through the community of Loughborough, Martin Todd, a convicted paedophile, has once again come under scrutiny for his reckless and dangerous behavior. The gravity of his actions and the circumstances surrounding his living arrangements near vulnerable children’s facilities have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of supervision and the safeguarding measures in place.

Back in September 2018, a judge expressed profound disbelief and outrage over the decision to allow Todd to reside in close proximity to a children’s home in Loughborough. The court heard how Todd, then 41 years old, had previously been convicted of serious sexual offenses and was on the sex offender register. Despite this, he was permitted to live at an approved address near the facility, a decision that many found incomprehensible given his history.

It was during this period that Todd targeted a vulnerable 15-year-old boy. According to court records, Todd lured the teenager to his flat by offering him cannabis, a tactic often used by predators to lower the victim’s defenses. Once inside, Todd subjected the boy to sexual abuse. On one particularly heinous occasion, Todd attempted to rape the teenager, who managed to escape the situation, narrowly avoiding further harm.

Leicester Crown Court in April 2011 heard the details of this case. Judge Simon Hammond described Todd as an “unrepentant sexual predator” and sentenced him to an indefinite term for public protection, with a minimum of five years behind bars. The victim’s mother expressed her relief and satisfaction with the sentence, stating, “I’m pleased with the sentence. A serious paedophile is off the streets and behind bars and other children are safe from him.”

Prior to this, Todd had a long history of offending. In 1997, he was jailed for three years after committing two separate sex attacks on young boys. His criminal record also includes a 2006 sentence of three-and-a-half years for breaching a sexual offences prevention order ten times, during which he befriended four families with children—though no crimes were committed during these interactions. Todd was released from prison in March 2009 and was placed at an approved address in Loughborough, near the very children’s home where he later committed his offenses.

In 2009, Todd was found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting the 15-year-old boy and one count of attempting to rape him, all occurring between October and November of that year. Although Todd denied the charges, he admitted to breaching the sexual offences prevention order by befriending the boy. The court’s investigation revealed that Todd’s proximity to the children’s home was a result of a decision made by authorities, despite concerns about his past behavior.

In response to the controversy, Leicestershire Police’s then temporary assistant chief constable, Geoff Feavyour, explained that the force had considered Todd’s previous offending patterns, which involved befriending the parents of his victims, rather than direct contact with children. The police examined three potential properties for Todd’s residence; one was rejected due to its proximity to a park, but the address he ultimately moved into had previously housed sex offenders without incident. Judge Hammond criticized this decision sharply, stating, “The defendant was a convicted paedophile on a sex offender register and was allocated a flat around the corner from a children’s home. It beggars belief that was allowed to happen.”

He further emphasized the difficulty in supervising such offenders, describing Todd as “very devious” and noting that the inevitable happened. The judge also pointed out that Todd likely used cannabis to “soften him up” for sexual abuse, an aggravating factor that increased the severity of his crimes. Todd was classified as posing a “very high risk” of causing serious harm to children in the future and was ordered to remain on the sex offender register for life. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

In a related case from February 2007, Todd, then 39, attempted to appeal his sentence after being jailed for three and a half years for breaching a court order that barred him from associating with children. The court found that Todd had deliberately sought out and targeted families to groom their children, a pattern of behavior that justified the length of his sentence. Todd’s previous convictions included assaults on boys aged eight and 14, and he was considered a high risk for future violent and sexual offenses.

During the appeal at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, Mr Justice Burton upheld the original sentence, describing Todd’s breaches as premeditated acts of grooming. The court noted that Todd had spent time with five children aged between two and 14, despite police monitoring his movements. The judges dismissed his appeal, reaffirming that his actions involved “inappropriate time spent in the close proximity of children,” and that his behavior demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory intent.

Throughout his criminal history, Todd has shown a disturbing pattern of manipulative behavior, including befriending families, making false claims about his personal life, and engaging in activities that put children at risk. His repeated breaches of court orders and his refusal to show remorse highlight the ongoing danger he poses. The community of Loughborough remains deeply concerned about the safety of its children, especially given the history of Todd’s offenses and the questionable decisions that allowed him to live near vulnerable populations. Authorities continue to monitor his case closely, but questions about the adequacy of supervision and the safeguarding protocols remain a pressing issue.