A MAN from West Byfleet has been jailed for sexually abusing a teenage girl and exploiting her into dealing drugs.

Martin Davison, 46, of Birchwood Road, was sentenced to seven years in prison when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court.

The court was told his offending began in July 2019, when he started supplying the 15-year-old girl with cocaine.

Throughout the summer, Davison manipulated the girl into believing they were in a loving relationship.

He coerced her into dealing cocaine for him and would threaten her with violence to keep her from disclosing the relationship to anyone else, telling those around him that she was 18.

A police investigation into Davison’s activities began in January 2020, when detectives from the Surrey Police Child Exploitation and Missing Unit began building a case of evidence, which included phone records, to show his abhorrent pattern of offending.

Davison had been found guilty by a jury on May 10 of two counts of sexual activity with a child, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and arranging/facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

Detective Constable Lisa Larkin, who investigated the case, said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in coming forward and persevering with our investigation and the criminal justice system with such tenacity.

“Davison is a dangerous sexual predator who will manipulate and exploit vulnerability for his own selfish gain.

“Often, this type of exploitation is happening in plain sight. 

“It’s vitally important that, as a community, we know how to spot the signs so we can root out predators like Davison and safeguard children who are vulnerable to criminal and sexual exploitation.

“I would urge anyone exploited as a child to report it so we can support you and seek justice.”

Davison was sentenced to six years in prison for the offences outlined to the court and an additional one year in relation to a separate, unrelated offence.