MARTYN LELLO FROM BALHAM AND POWYS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN KINGSTON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Balham and Powys, Martyn Lello, aged 56, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl during the early 1980s. The sentencing took place at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, December 21, following a detailed trial that uncovered the disturbing extent of Lello's abuse.

According to court proceedings, the victim, now in her late 30s, recounted her harrowing experiences, revealing that she knew Lello during her childhood in Balham. She described how Lello would frequently visit her family home, where she lived with her mother, and would often enter her bedroom uninvited. The initial acts involved Lello giving her massages, but over time, his behavior became increasingly sexual and invasive.

The victim, who is legally protected from being identified, explained that these incidents occurred from when she was approximately nine years old until she was about 12. At the time, Lello was 27 years old, and his actions escalated from seemingly innocent massages to acts of sexual assault. The court heard that Lello exploited a position of trust, as he was well-known in his local community and even contributed photographs to a nearby university, with no prior criminal record.

Prosecutor Teresa Hay emphasized the betrayal of trust, stating, “He would come and visit her whilst she was in bed and would massage her. It developed into sexual assault. He was in a position of responsibility, he was trusted by her mother.”

Judge Campbell, presiding over the case, sentenced Lello for four counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency with a child. The judge described the abuse as a continuous series of assaults that began when the girl was just nine years old. Lello showed no visible emotion as the sentence was read, which included a ten-year sexual offences order in addition to his prison term.

Following the sentencing, the victim publicly called for others who have suffered similar abuse to come forward. She expressed her relief that Lello had finally been held accountable, stating, “I don’t care whether Lello was sent down today for a year or for 20. It is enough for me that he has finally been forced to acknowledge in public what he did to me when I was a child. I would encourage any such victims to be brave and come forward and make a statement to the police so that we can rid society of this evil.”

In a related statement, the father of another victim, who was abused by Lello in the early 1980s, described him as a “devious and cunning paedophile.” The father, from Knighton, Powys, expressed concern that Lello’s predatory behavior might have extended beyond the known cases. He said, “Martyn Lello has proved himself to be a devious and cunning paedophile. I am convinced there are other victims of this vile creature suffering in silence as my daughter has done for 30 years. I would urge them to have the strength to report these offences to the police as she did last year.”

The victim, who gave her testimony from behind a screen to protect her identity, detailed the progression of her abuse, noting that Lello’s affection turned into inappropriate and sexual behavior. She recounted how it started with hugs and cuddles, but gradually escalated to massages and other acts that she knew were wrong even as a child.

Lello, who was 27 when he began abusing the girl, was convicted by a jury composed of nine women and three men. His sentencing is scheduled for December 21 at Kingston Crown Court, where he faces the consequences of his actions and the lasting impact on his victims.