Masked burglars terrorise George Martin’s widow, 89
She hid in her bathroom as raiders hunted for Beatles memorabilia
THE widow of ‘fifth Beatle’ Sir George Martin locked herself in the bathroom in terror as masked burglars forced their way into her home. Judy Martin, 89, dialled 999 after discovering two intruders at her house in an Oxfordshire village. Uniformed officers arrived with sirens blaring within minutes, forcing the pair to flee empty-handed.
Despite support from a police helicopter with a thermal imaging camera, the suspects escaped and remain on the run. One line of inquiry is that the intruders thought priceless Beatles memorabilia was in the house.
The brazen raid shocked residents in the village of Coleshill, which lies in the picturesque Vale of White Horse.
One said ‘nothing happens here’ and official police figures show not a single crime was recorded in the area in the previous month.
Lady Martin has lived in the property for more than 40 years. Since the death of legendary music producer Sir George at the age of 90 two years ago, she has been closely supported by family and friends. The burglary took place as Lady Martin was watching television on her own late at night. She heard the sound of breaking glass and saw two masked men smashing their way into her conservatory. She quickly made her way upstairs and locked herself in the bathroom, where she dialled 999.
A source said: ‘The police arrived within minutes and had the helicopter out searching for them. Luckily Lady Martin was unscathed and the burglars fled the scene empty-handed. It must have been terrifying for her.’
Lady Martin, once a secretary at Abbey Road music studios, married Sir George four years after he walked out on his first wife in 1962 – the year he signed the Beatles.
Her husband went on to enjoy a remarkable career in which he produced more than 700 records and worked with some of the world’s greatest talents.
As well as the Fab Four, whose members he worked with over four decades, he helped produce music for Sting, Jose Carreras and Celine Dion.
But his death in March 2016 triggered a furious family row over his financial legacy, which was estimated at far more than the £1 million he left in his will.
His eldest daughter accused him of hiding ‘vast wealth’ in offshore accounts so it could be passed on to his ‘favoured’ children from his second marriage.
His eldest son, who fell out with his father decades ago, was cut out altogether.
Speaking at the property yesterday, a housekeeper said Lady Martin did not want to comment.
Thames Valley Police confirmed detectives were investigating ‘an incident’ which took place shortly after 11pm on February 26.
A spokesman said: ‘The victim, a woman in her 80s, saw two offenders in her property.
‘Officers attended the scene but the offenders had since left. Nothing was stolen in the incident and the victim was not injured. No arrests have yet been made.’