Over 15 years in jail for Scarborough sex offender

A former Scarborough man has been jailed for over 15 years for the repeated sexual abuse of two children over several years.

Martin Shaun Slater, 53, of no fixed address, previously from Scarborough, was found guilty by jury of 16 child sex offences including:

• four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16
• engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a girl under 13
• two counts of sexual touching against a girl aged between 8 and 9
• one count of sexual touching against a girl aged between 8 and 9 including penetration
• eight counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14

The abuse dates back to the 1980s and early 2000s and began when the boy was just seven years old and later when the girl was just five. It continued into their teens.

Slater denied the offences but a jury found him guilty on 29 July 2024. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years and six months at York Crown Court on 7 October 2024 where he was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, two lifelong restraining orders preventing him from contacting either of the victims and placed on the sex offenders register. 

The court heard how Slater’s abuse had affected all aspects of the victims’ lives and their mental health as they grew up and into their adulthood, causing immense distress for them and their families.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Leah Gillon of Scarborough CID,  said: “Slater has caused immeasurable harm to the victims which has affected all of their lives and that of their families.

“They are to be commended for coming forward and reporting the abuse. As with many victims of abuse they have lived with the trauma caused by Slater for many, many years, before feeling able to report what had happened to them.

“I hope the guilty verdicts and the sentence handed out to Slater helps them to put a traumatic time in their lives behind them and provides a semblance of closure for them.

 “I also hope other victims of abuse feel they can report what happened to them to the police, no matter when it happened, in the knowledge that they will be listened to, we will carry out a thorough investigation and you will be offered professional specialist support.” 

Reporting sexual offences and seeking professional support

• Make a report to North Yorkshire Police via our website or call 101, option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room.
• If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response.
• Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.
• Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk
• Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email [email protected] or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org/
• You can also contact the Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at www.supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.