Martin Butler

A man described as a 'monster' by his victim has been jailed for 11 years following his conviction for a brutal rape that occurred 35 years ago in Cornwall. Martin Butler, aged 61 from Stevenage, was found guilty of rape and buggery at Truro Crown Court in February, with sentencing taking place on 21 April.

The court heard harrowing details of the incident that unfolded in August 1988. At the time, the victim was in a relationship with Butler, and the couple had visited his parents' home in the village of Mevagissey. After an evening out in the village, they returned to the house and retired to bed. The victim recounted waking up to discover her hands tied behind her back and her legs bound together. Butler reportedly placed his hand over her mouth and nose, restricting her breathing as he carried out the assault. She feared for her life during the rape, believing she might not survive the ordeal.

Following the attack, Butler untied her arms and left the room. The victim managed to free herself, confronted him downstairs, and then barricaded herself back in the bedroom for safety. Butler subsequently left the property and did not return that night. Traumatised, the victim did not report the rape immediately, convinced at the time that she was his sole victim. It was not until 2018, when she encountered a social media post suggesting other possible victims, that she came forward to contact the police.

The trial featured testimony from two other alleged victims who appeared as bad character witnesses for the prosecution. Their cases had previously been discontinued by police in other parts of the country, but their accounts provided crucial context to Butler's behaviour. Detective Constable Sarah Davison, the lead officer in the case from Devon and Cornwall Police, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: 'We are pleased that justice has been served, and that Butler has been sent to prison where he will stay for a considerable time. We wish to pay tribute to the victim, for her resilience and courage in coming forward and giving evidence.'

In a powerful victim impact statement, the woman shared her experience with the justice system: 'I'd like to say that as a victim, I felt heard with my anxieties from the Crown and my police liaison officer and was supported with this. I know there are many victims of abuse and rape that will not be so lucky to have a dedicated team like I have had. This system has to change to support and protect every single victim in these modern times.' She also thanked the jury for their attention to the evidence and acknowledged the role of the bad character witnesses, adding: 'Everyone has played a crucial part in putting this monster behind bars so he cannot affect anyone else for a long time. I believe there may be others still out there.'

Despite the challenges of prosecuting a historical case within an outdated judicial framework, the dedication of the investigative team and the courage of the victim led to Butler's conviction. Devon and Cornwall Police emphasised their ongoing commitment to supporting survivors of abuse and pursuing offenders, no matter how much time has passed since the crime.