CPS News Brief

Carer sentenced for rape and sexual offences on children

Michael Ponzo, 20, from Swindon was today sentenced at Swindon Crown Court to two offences of rape, 13 sexual assaults on a child under the age of 13, and 24 offences relating to indecent images of children.

Most of the offences were against five children all aged under 13 and took place between 2011 and 2015. He was sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment with an extended licence of 5 years.

Mary-Ruth Johnson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Wessex Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit said:

“Michael Ponzo has committed every parent’s worst nightmare. He raped a child, sexually assaulted children and took images of his abuse. He abused the trust parents had placed in him to look after their children. The parents of three of the children had contacted him via a childcare website as they were looking for either a carer or baby-sitter.

“All the child victims in this case were vulnerable as they were very young when the offences took place.

“The impact of Michael Ponzo’s crimes has been devastating and now the children, and their families, have to recover from this terrible episode.

“CPS Wessex RASSO Unit will continue to work relentlessly with the police to bring such offenders to court. Our thoughts are with the victims and the parents in this case. We hope that they will find closure and that they will be able to move on with their lives.”

John Martin convicted of the murder of Natalia Strelchenko

John Martin was today convicted at Manchester Crown Court of the murder of his wife Natalia Strelchenko, a renowned concert pianist.

John Martin killed his wife at their home in Newton Heath, Manchester in August 2015.

Earlier that day John Martin had argued with Natalia. He lost his temper, left the house and was drinking in the garden shed, returning after midnight when he attacked Natalia by throwing her and himself down the stairs, and then strangling and beating her. A friend of Natalia’s from Poland, who was staying at the house, witnessed the attack and fled the house to get help.

David Harley, Senior Crown Prosecutor from CPS North West said:

“John Martin killed his wife Natalia Strelchenko in a vicious rage in their own home. He was motivated by anger and, fuelled by alcohol, he lost his temper and violently attacked her, even admitting to her friend who tried to stop him that he wanted to kill her. It was the prosecution case that he intended to kill her or cause her very serious harm and therefore was guilty of murder.

“John Martin told the court during the trial that he couldn’t remember the events of that night, but the jury have found him guilty of murder. This was an appalling crime and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Natalia Strelchenko at this time. They have shown tremendous courage throughout the trial.”

Mark Davis jailed for 14 years for abuse of boys in South Wales

A man who raped and sexually assaulted boys he met through theatre and stage groups in the 1980s and 1990s has been sentenced to 14 years at Cardiff Crown Court. Mark Davis, who at the time performed magic and comedy routines in South Wales under the name Mark Major, befriended the boys and their families before subjecting them to serious sexual assaults.

Speaking after the sentencing Leanne Jonathan, District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said:

“Over a period of weeks and months, Davis deliberately set out to gain the trust of these young, vulnerable and impressionable boys and their families. This was a slow, systematic and callous grooming process which enabled Davis to create opportunities to carry out repeated assaults on his victims.

“Davis abused the trust placed in him by his victims and their families and his actions have left a lasting impression on all of them.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victims in this case, who have shown immense courage in coming forward to report what happened to them, despite the passage of time. It is their fortitude and bravery that has led to Davis being sentenced today. I hope that their actions may give strength to others who may be carrying similar burdens but be unsure of whether to go to the police.”