PORTSMOUTH MAN JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A 59-year-old man from Portsmouth named Mark Austin has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction on child sex offenses.Residing on Gurney Road in Southsea, Austin appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court on December 8 for sentencing after a jury found him guilty last month on six separate charges.
The court was told during the trial that Austin had assaulted two young girls in the 1980s, when they were less than 10 years old.
The victims came forward with their experiences in 2020, prompting a detailed police investigation.
Austin faced four counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14 and two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14.
He pleaded not guilty, yet the jury convicted him of all charges.
He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, plus a further year on license.
During the sentencing process, DC Graham Skull praised the bravery of the victims for reporting the abuse many years later, and reiterated society’s serious stance on such offenses.
Austin will also have to serve an additional year on license after his release.
