December 2012

Jail for man who massaged and then abused young girl

A child abuser has been jailed for five years for the prolonged sexual abuse of a young girl.

Martyn Lello, 56, of Powys, Wales, was sentenced for sexual assault and gross indecency, with the charges dating back to the early 1980s on Friday December 21.

Kingston Crown Court heard the victim, now in her late 30s, knew the defendant when she was growing up in Balham.

Lello would regularly visit the house where she lived with her mother and come into her bedroom.

He would start by giving the victim a massage, with his behaviour gradually growing more sexual.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said it took place from when she was aged nine to 12.

Lello, who was 27 when he started abusing the girl, was found guilty following a trial earlier this month.

Prosecuting, Teresa Hay, said: “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.”

The court heard Lello was well-known in his community and took photographs for the local university, with no other previous convictions.

Sentencing, Judge Campbell, said: “I have to sentence you for four offences of indecent assault and one offence of gross indecency with a child.

“This was a continuing series of assaults, they started when she was nine-years-old.”
Lello, who remained emotionless as the sentence was read out, was given a 10 year sexual offences order on top of his prison sentence.

After the sentencing the victim called for more people who suffer from sexual abuse to come forward.

She said: “I don’t care whether Lello was sent down today for a year or for 20
years.

“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.”

December 2012

Father speaks out after daughter’s sex abuser is convicted

The father of a historic sex abuse victim has described his daughter’s convicted attacker as a “devious and cunning paedophile”.

Martyn Lello, 55, from Knighton, Powys in Wales, is facing up to 14 years behind bars for the prolonged period of abuse against a girl aged nine to 12 in the early 1980s.

Appearing at Kingston Crown Court on November 30 he was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency with a child, all said to have taken place between 1983-88.

The victim, who is now in her late 30s, knew the defendant when she was growing up in Balham but only reported her horrific ordeal to police in 2011 after telling her husband.

Speaking after the trial concluded the victim’s father said he believes Lello may have abused girls elsewhere in the country.

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.

“I know he had friends in Ipswich with a daughter the same age as mine.

“I can’t help but wonder if she, poor child, was abused at the same time.”

During the trial, the victim, who spoke from behind a screen and who cannot be named for legal reasons, described in detail the sickening abuse she endured.

She said: “He was always affectionate to me, but that changed to a sexual nature.

“It started with hugs and cuddles but then he used to massage me and he gradually got braver each time.

“I knew it was private and inappropriate but I was a child.”

Lello, who was 27 when he started abusing the girl, was convicted by a jury of nine women and three men.

He will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on December 21.