CONWAY TWINS FROM CAMBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR CHILLING SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG BOY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Cambridge, twin brothers Martyn and John Conway, both former Mormon missionaries, have been convicted of heinous sexual offenses involving a young boy. The case, which unfolded at Cambridge Crown Court, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years and involved multiple victims.

John Conway, aged 50, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of four counts of indecent assault committed against the same young boy. These assaults took place between 1979, when the victim was only seven years old, and 1986. Despite denying all charges during the trial, John Conway was convicted last month, confirming the severity of his crimes.

His identical twin brother, Martyn Conway, who chose to plead guilty, received a concurrent three-year sentence for six counts of indecent assault on the same boy, as well as an additional assault on a 15-year-old boy in 1994. However, Martyn's criminal history extends further; he is currently serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted in 2008 of eight indecency charges, including the rape and attempted rape of another young boy during the 1980s. The recent sentences will be served consecutively to his existing term, resulting in a total of ten years behind bars.

Judge Anthony Bate addressed the court, emphasizing that there was no alternative but to impose immediate custodial sentences due to the gravity and serial nature of the sexual abuse committed by the Conway brothers. The judge highlighted the disturbing details of their misconduct, including instances where the brothers bribed their young victim with sweets and presented him with a “menu” of sexual acts, further illustrating the calculated and manipulative nature of their crimes.

The case also shed light on the setting where these abuses occurred. The brothers were associated with the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located on Cherry Hinton Road in Cambridge. It was within this community, a place where the victim should have felt safe and protected, that the grooming began. Judge Bate described the activities as some of the worst he had seen, calling them “chilling” and a betrayal of trust.

He stated, “The activities into which he had been inducted were some of the very worst and I cannot see it as anything less than chilling. Events have proved the accounts of good character I received have been proved false. The consecutive sentences must be given here for this quite distinct and grave serial sexual abuse of a young boy whom Martyn Conway had befriended in a setting of Christian trust and fellowship and who was groomed for his own and his brother’s selfish gratification.”

Defense attorneys for Martyn Conway, Roger Harrison, acknowledged his client’s “great courage” in facing the consequences of actions taken over three decades ago. Meanwhile, Mark Shelley, representing John Conway, argued that his client was “no longer a danger to anyone,” attempting to mitigate the impact of the convictions.

The charges against the victims included acts such as hugging, kissing, touching their genitals, and other sexual acts. During the trial, John Conway claimed that his brother might have manipulated the boy into believing he was the attacker, asserting that he himself had never shown interest in young boys. The case has left a lasting scar on the community and raises serious questions about trust and safety within community institutions.