'Dangerous' paedophile 'befriended young families'

Martin Woods, 46, will serve at least 14 years in prison

A "dangerous" paedophile who befriended young families to sexually abuse children has been jailed for 22 years.

Martin Woods, formerly of Hadleigh in Suffolk, was sentenced to the prison term and and given an extended licence period of six years that would follow his release.

The 46-year-old had abused an underage girl more than 10 years ago and has been found guilty of six offences.

Woods will serve his sentence at the same time as he serves an existing sentence he was handed in 2021 after he admitted sexually assaulting a different child.

He will remain on the sex offenders for life and is also the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Det Con Kate Hutson, from Suffolk Police, said: "Woods is a dangerous offender who has shown a pattern of behaviour in befriending young families in order to sexually abuse children."

Before his trial in December, Woods had been charged with

• three counts of attempted assault on a girl under 13 by penetration

• two counts of rape of a girl under 13

• one count of assault of a girl under 13 by touching

He was told he would not be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board until he had served 14 years and six months in prison.

'Great courage'

Det Con Hutson praised the "bravery" and "resilience" of Woods' victim.

"In a statement to the court, she described how difficult it was to talk about what had happened to her saying that the words were pushed in so far that she didn't know how to get them out," she added.

"She has shown great courage to report the crimes against her and in supporting the investigation throughout, culminating in her giving evidence at the trial.

"I hope that knowing Woods will serve at least 14 years and eight months before being eligible for parole will bring her some measure of closure."

Before his recent conviction, Woods was jailed in 2021 for rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 and five counts of taking or making indecent images of children.