TIMOTHY MARTIN FROM WATFORD ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE SEX OFFENCE AT PRIMARY SCHOOL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Watford, Hertfordshire, Timothy Martin, a 34-year-old man with a troubling history, was spared imprisonment despite his conviction for sexual activity with a minor. Martin, who had been residing in a school cottage at Beechfield School in Watford, was living on the school grounds after being appointed as the caretaker in July of the previous year.

His situation took a dark turn in May when he was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The court sentenced him to a two-year community order, which includes a 12-month supervision requirement, and imposed a ban on any contact with the victim. Additionally, Martin, a father of two, was disqualified from working with children indefinitely and was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years.

Despite the criminal checks conducted when he was initially hired, no charges were brought against Martin at that time, allowing him to take up his role at Beechfield School. However, when he was charged last September with an offence involving a girl who was not a pupil at the school, Hertfordshire County Council began proceedings to evict him from the school cottage. Martin was immediately suspended from his duties following the allegations, but due to his tenancy agreement, he was permitted to remain living on the premises.

It was only in May that the council succeeded in obtaining an eviction order after an appeal in a civil case at Watford County Court. The court's decision came after a lengthy legal process, during which the council argued that Martin's continued residence was inappropriate given the serious allegations against him.

On Tuesday, Judge John Plumstead delivered his sentence, addressing Martin directly. The judge stated, “You made a pass at an underage girl. To be kissed by a man she hardly knew was something she was not ready for and it has worried her. I think you were just drunk and being extremely badly behaved.”

Earlier in the year, in May 2007, the situation had already raised eyebrows when two judges allowed Martin to live on the school grounds for nearly a year after he was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The controversy intensified when it was revealed that Martin had secured his caretaker position in June, just days after being charged. The school’s authorities only discovered his criminal record two days before he was due to start work, leading to his immediate suspension. Despite this, he had already moved into the cottage with his wife and two children, located just 100 yards from the main school building.

The Hertfordshire County Council had attempted to evict Martin as early as December, but their efforts were thwarted by a technicality related to tenancy rules in a court hearing at Watford County Court. A subsequent decision by a Crown Court judge also prevented the council from enforcing eviction by altering bail conditions, citing that Martin had no alternative accommodation and was under monitoring.

Following his conviction for sexual activity with a girl under 14 at St Albans Crown Court, parents and local residents expressed their outrage. Many only learned of Martin’s criminal conviction through a letter from the school head, Anne Heywood, who was constrained by legal restrictions from informing them earlier. One parent voiced their frustration, saying, “I am furious. We should have been told as soon as he was charged to ensure our kids’ safety.”

A Hertfordshire council source criticized the legal process, stating, “The courts put the niceties of the law and this man’s tenant rights ahead of child protection.” The case has drawn comparisons to the Soham tragedy involving Ian Huntley, who also worked as a caretaker with a history of sex offences.

In response to the ongoing controversy, school officials have maintained strict surveillance measures. Two police officers equipped with CCTV are guarding Martin’s residence to prevent vigilante actions. A council spokeswoman emphasized, “We’ve done everything legally possible to evict Timothy Martin.”

Martin himself claims he wishes to leave the property but has been told that local authorities cannot re-house him. In an interview with The Sun, he stated, “I got convicted of one offence — kissing.” The legal and moral debates surrounding his case continue to unfold, with calls from some officials for a review of the judicial decisions that allowed him to remain on school grounds. Watford’s Labour MP, Claire Ward, expressed her concern, saying, “The judge should have made it his bail condition to live at another address.”