News

A foster carer who abused more than 2,000 girls would not have got away with his crimes today because of more stringent recruitment and management standards, a serious case review has concluded.

Glyn Martin, who was also a school governor, was jailed for 18 years in January on charges including child abduction and possession of indecent photographs dating back to 1986.

He was approved as an emergency foster carer between 1990 and 1991 for girls aged two and four. Staff at Sheffield social services department regarded the placement of the girls with a single man as unusual but Martin had cared for them with their father's approval before they were formally placed with him.


In 1994 the girls' names were placed on the child protection register after Martin took photographs at a gym. A case was not brought against him because they were not considered "indecent". An assessment of Martin's care was not completed because of staff sickness.

The review says "there is now a greater and more detailed understanding of the nature and characteristics of paedophile behaviour" which would mean agencies would now act differently.


It recommends sporting organisations should ensure child protection policies are in place and should use guidance available through Sport England.

"Many things that were considered normal during this period have now changed and Glyn Martin could not have acted as he did in the late 1980s and remain undiscovered today."