A 70-year-old man has been jailed for 11 years and nine months after being convicted of multiple historic sexual offences against a girl who was under 16. Martin Cowley, of Checketts Close, Pinvin, near Pershore, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday, August 6. Cowley was found guilty of 14 counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 16, relating to offences dating back to the 1990s. The offences were reported to police in 2023, around three decades after they took place.
Convicted after four-day trial
Cowley stood trial at Worcester Crown Court, where jurors heard evidence over four days. The trial concluded on May 14, when he was convicted of all 14 counts. He has now been sentenced to 11 years and nine months behind bars. Cowley was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been imposed which prevents him from contacting anyone under the age of 18. He was additionally handed a 15-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim.
‘They have waited 30 years for this day’
Detective Sergeant Louise Sutton, from West Mercia Police’s Protecting People Unit, praised the victim for finding the courage to come forward. She said: “We are pleased to get this custodial sentence against Cowley, whose victim was only a child at the time. “He may have thought he had got away with his disgusting crimes but today shows he has not escaped justice. “We would like to pay tribute to the victim for their courage in coming forward and giving the evidence to us that has led to this successful prosecution. They have waited 30 years for this day.” DS Sutton said police hoped the sentence would help the victim move forward and encourage other survivors of sexual abuse to report offences regardless of how much time has passed. She added: “We hope today’s sentencing will help them to move on with their lives and that it encourages other victims of sexual abuse to come forward. “We will always listen to you and act where appropriate no matter how long ago the offences took place.”
