ROCK FERRY CHURCH MINISTER MARTYN POOLE SENTENCED FOR ABUSING YOUNG GIRL IN WIRRAL

In June 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving Martyn Poole, a former church minister from Rock Ferry, who was convicted of heinous crimes against a vulnerable young girl. Poole, aged 74 at the time of sentencing, had built a deceptive relationship with the girl, whom he met through church activities in the Wirral area. Over time, he exploited her trust by engaging in sexual abuse, ultimately leading to his conviction and imprisonment.

Poole’s actions came to light during a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where a jury found him guilty of two counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child. The court heard that Poole had posed as a paternal figure to the girl, who was then a naive and impressionable child. His position within the church community allowed him to gain her confidence, which he then betrayed through his criminal conduct.

The judge, Recorder Andrew Long, addressed Poole directly during sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of his betrayal. He stated, “The complainant met you through the church. At the time she was a particularly vulnerable child. She was being raised by her strict grandparents; attending church and participating in church activities was one of the few privileges she had. You befriended her, gained her trust, and she looked to you as a father figure – you betrayed that trust.”

During the trial, the court was also presented with a heartbreaking statement from the victim. She recounted how Poole’s abuse had devastated her childhood and left her battling depression for many years. In her emotional testimony, she said, “I will never forgive that man for taking away my childhood and other experiences I would have had in my life. I only hope justice will prevail and he will be punished for what he did to me all those years ago.”

The woman described herself as innocent and naive at the time of the abuse, revealing that the trauma had caused her to develop a deep distrust of men, a feeling that persisted into her adult life. Her voice trembled with emotion as she read her statement, and she was visibly upset, sobbing in the public gallery as the court proceedings continued.

Recorder Long condemned Poole’s actions, stating, “My view is you used your position in the church to facilitate the commission of these offences and to break the trust that people in the community had in you.” He also noted that, due to the offences being committed many years ago, the law limited his sentencing to a maximum of two years under the legal framework at the time.

As part of his punishment, Poole was sentenced to 22 months in prison. Additionally, he was permanently banned from having any unsupervised contact with children and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and preventing further harm to vulnerable individuals in the community.