Glyn Martin case review concludes

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.”