A SICK pervert who traumatised a number of young children through a campaign of sexual harassment and abuse has been locked up.
Mark Anthony Wilson targeted a number of young people to sate his depraved sexual needs over a two-year period.
Teesside Crown court heard how he intimidated the youngsters to send sexually explicit images of themselves before sending one picture to a victim’s mother and threatening to post private pictures on social media.
The 35-year-old was jailed for a total of six years and eight months after he pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences, including causing or inciting a child under 13 to carry out a sexual act.
Judge Timothy Stead accepted that the defendant had endured a traumatic childhood and had been diagnosed a number of medical conditions before sentencing him to six years and eight months.
Read more: Face of prolific criminal who has almost 100 convictions for 291 offences
He said some of the offences involved a nine-year-old girl sending sexually explicit images to the defendant; an eight-year-old girl sending pictures of her genitals; and a young boy sending an image of his genitals.
“Some of these horrific offences are as serious as can be imagined of offences of their kind,” he said.
Wilson also send a vile, abusive message to a 16-year-old girl and threatened to post images online.
The judge added: “This complainant reported abusive communications to the police. It is apparent that the defendant sent abusive messages, including calling her a ‘dirty *** slag’ and a ‘black ***’ before threatening to post a message on YouTube alleging that her father had raped her.
“This is an extraordinary and serious offence of its kind.”
The court heard how Wilson was initially arrested in June 2018 and a number of indecent images of children were discovered on his digital devices.
The defendant was arrested again in December 2019 concerning online activity involving a 14-year-old girl and again a number of indecent images of children were recovered.
He was arrested for third time in September 2020 this time following allegations of inciting sexual activity with a child under 13.
Wilson, of Allen Grove, Stokesley, was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign on the sex offenders' register for life.
Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer, Detective Constable Karen Barugh of Northallerton CID, said: “The defendant has committed multiple malicious and sexual offences against children online between 2018 and 2020, causing them great distress. They must have been terrified at the thought of him carrying out his threats.
“Despite being arrested, he continued to commit offences while on bail, his offending increasing in severity over time. He was prolific in his targeting of children and has shown no remorse for what he did.
“I'd like to thank those children and young people who were brave enough to come forward and give a statement to the police. I would urge anyone else to do the same if they are victim of any type of sexual offence.”
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