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'Dangerous' serial paedophile who befriended young families given additional 22-year jail term

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A "dangerous" sex offender has been handed a 22-year jail sentence at Ipswich Crown Court for multiple sexual offences against a child.

The big picture: Martin Woods, formerly of Hadleigh and already serving a lengthy jail term for the rape, sexual assault, and making indecent images of a child, was found guilty by a jury in December 2024 of six offences against another child.

The crimes occurred more than 10 years ago.

Convicted paedophile Martin Woods
Martin Woods has been handed a 22-year jail sentence at Ipswich Crown Court for multiple sexual offences against a childSuffolk Constabulary

The details:

  • Woods, 46, received a 22-year sentence with an extended licence period of six years.

  • He was convicted of three counts of attempted assault on a girl under 13 by penetration, two counts of rape of a girl under 13, and one count of assault of a girl under 13 by touching.

  • The sentence will run alongside an existing term from 2021 for rape, sexual assault, and making indecent images of children involving a different victim.

What they're saying: Detective Constable Kate Hutson described Woods as "a dangerous offender who has shown a pattern of behaviour in befriending young families in order to sexually abuse children."

In a statement to the court, the victim described her struggle to speak about the abuse, saying "the words were pushed in so far that she didn't know how to get them out." Judge Emma Peters commended the victim's bravery and resilience throughout the investigation and trial.

Support available:

  • Suffolk Police can be contacted on 101

  • The Suffolk Sexual Assault Referral Centre (The Ferns) offers confidential support on 0330 223 0099

  • Local charity Survivors in Transition provides specialist support for survivors

  • Brave Futures offers therapeutic services for young people up to age 21

The bottom line: Woods will serve at least 14 years and eight months before being eligible for parole. He remains on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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Farage more trusted than Starmer in East of England, latest poll finds

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is more trusted to represent the UK internationally than PM Keir Starmer among East of England voters, new polling reveals.

Why it matters: The findings highlight a significant decline in trust for the main party leaders in the region less than a year after the general election.

The poll, conducted by communications agency PLMR and Electoral Calculus, shows Farage ranked highest among named leaders at 19% in the East of England, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer (13%), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (6%) and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey (5%).

Nigel Farage
Nigel FarageAlamy

The bigger picture: One in three voters (33%) in the region responded "none of the above" when asked which political figure they would trust most, suggesting a broader decline in overall trust in UK political leaders.

By the numbers: The same poll indicates Reform UK would become the largest party in the region if an election were held tomorrow:

  • Reform: 21 seats

  • Conservatives: 10 seats

  • Labour: 4 seats

  • Liberal Democrats: 2 seats

  • Greens: 1 seat

In contrast: Nationally, Farage and Starmer are tied at 16% among those who named a preference, highlighting a more polarised national picture, with the Reform UK leader building more trust with voters in the East of England specifically.

What they're saying: "This polling highlights a significant decline in trust for the two main party leaders among East of England voters when it comes to representing the UK on the international stage," said Tim Miller , Managing Director of PLMR Genesis , the East of England branch of PLMR.

Reform and Nigel Farage have seemingly been able to capitalise on this and it's now translating into voting intentions, with the Party set to overtake Labour and the Conservatives in the region with the largest number of seats – a seismic political shift.

Between the lines: The poll suggests Reform would make strong gains across the region, potentially taking seats from both major parties:

  • Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket from Labour

  • Essex: Braintree from the Conservatives and Thurrock from Labour

  • Cambridgeshire: North East from the Conservatives and North West from Labour

  • Norfolk: North West from the Conservatives and South West from Labour

Tim Miller on a backdrop of Ipswich from above and political party colour overlays
Tim Miller of PLMR GenesisOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The national outlook: The survey of 5,180 adults showed Reform securing 25% of the vote share nationally, compared to 23% each for Labour and the Conservatives. This would translate to 227 seats for Reform, 180 for Labour and 130 for the Conservatives.

The bottom line: "If Labour wants to keep Reform at bay, hold onto the gains they made in the East of England and remain in government in four year's time, the Party needs to focus on getting their message across more clearly to voters and instil confidence in their domestic agenda," Miller concluded.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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