Martin Fawcett, 55, of Cluttons Close, Crowland, was recently sentenced to six and a half years in jail following his conviction for the sexual abuse of a minor under 13 years of age.
The outcome concluded an extensive eight-month inquiry and provided the victim with a degree of closure (It is that simple according to the police), despite the longer journey that remains.
As with other cases of this nature, it necessitated substantial effort from many teams within Lincolnshire Police.
Response officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, digital forensics specialists, and child communication experts all contributed to the effort.
The Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) Team also did.
Collaborating with the Crown Prosecution Service, all parties endeavoured to construct a case with optimal prospects for success.
A courageous family decided to trust the police to safeguard their child and seek justice for the incident that occurred.
Officers collaborated with the family during the initial hours to collect crucial evidence and to facilitate the prompt arrest of the perpetrator.
This was to facilitate his processing for evidence and subsequent interview.
Upon the commencement of work, the case was sent to the Protecting Vulnerable People department, a specialised investigative unit focussing on sexual assaults against children, among other matters.
An Officer in the Case was designated to oversee the inquiry.
Detectives collaborated with reaction police and crime scene investigators to collect evidence from the scene of the crime.
These were referred to by the police as ‘Golden Hour Enquiries’—the collection of evidence during the initial phases of the investigation when material is plentiful and most susceptible to loss or deterioration.
This encompassed a comprehensive search of the crime scene, confiscation of electronic devices, and collection of forensic evidence.
Crucially, in these initial phases, the comprehensive scope of risk to the victim, family, suspect, and the public was assessed, and tactics were implemented to mitigate these risks.
Detectives collaborated with the family, the victim’s educational institution, and MOSOVO to ensure appropriate risk management.
This persisted throughout, including the lead-up to court and sentencing, with assistance from our Neighbourhood Policing Team, who observed possible tensions stemming from the case and engaged with the surrounding community regarding their concerns.
Subsequently, an extended investigative operation commenced, involving the examination and acquisition of digital devices, aided by our Paedophile Online Investigation Team and Digital Forensics Unit, as well as the analysis of forensic evidence.
An additional interview with the suspect was conducted as fresh evidence emerged, along with the collection of statements from disclosure witnesses.
At this step, police collaborated with a Registered Intermediary, a specialist in child communication, to conduct a video-recorded interview with the young victim.
This was to guarantee that their evidence, when submitted in court, would constitute the most compelling proof.
Ultimately, when all evidence was collected and examined, the Officer in Case was tasked with consolidating this information for submission to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charge determination.
The case officer collaborated with the Officer in the Case to examine unused and third-party materials, guaranteeing comprehensive disclosure to facilitate a fair trial for the suspect.
Detective Brennan stated, “It was a privilege to spearhead this investigation and collaborate with committed colleagues who consistently exhibit a victim-centered, suspect-focused methodology.”
“As a team, we are profoundly appreciative that the victim’s family entrusted us to secure the justice they rightfully deserved.”
“We anticipate that this favourable result will motivate additional victims to step forward.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.