MARK BOWNESS SENT TO PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ATTEMPTED CHILD APPROACH IN CARLISLE AND MORTON

In September 2008, a disturbing case unfolded involving Mark Bowness, a resident of Morton, who was convicted of viewing explicit child pornography and attempting to engage with a young boy in Carlisle. The incident highlighted the ongoing concerns about individuals who pose a threat to children within local communities.

Authorities took swift action after Bowness was caught in the act of viewing hundreds of illicit images at Carlisle’s Lanes Library. The police discovered that he possessed 18 floppy discs containing a total of 375 images, some of which depicted children involved in sexual activities. This evidence underscored the severity of his offenses and the danger he represented.

Further investigations revealed that Bowness, who previously resided on Ellesmere Way in Morton, kept a personal diary detailing disturbing fantasies about having sexual relations with young children. Such revelations painted a troubling picture of his mindset and intentions.

On January 7 of that year, police responded to reports at Carlisle Library where Bowness was found viewing child pornography. His possession of the discs was confirmed, and he was taken into custody. The court heard that he had a history of similar offenses, including previous convictions for indecent exposure and outraging public decency, dating back to the previous year.

Less than a week after his arrest, Bowness attempted to approach a 10-year-old boy on a bus. He sat beside the child at the back of the vehicle and tried to initiate a conversation. When the boy ignored him, Bowness touched his arm. The young boy, frightened by the encounter, managed to ignore the advances and disembarked from the bus. Bowness later admitted to police that he found the boy attractive and expressed a disturbing desire for a sexual relationship, stating, “I fancied him. I liked him and that’s all that matters. I want a boy to like me, then maybe they will let me have sex.”

During the court proceedings, Bowness pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of common assault and another of attempting to commit a sexual assault. He also admitted to 21 counts of possessing child pornography, which included images of children engaged in sexual acts. His defense argued that he needed psychological help to live within societal norms, emphasizing that he had never acted on his fantasies despite the detailed entries in his diary.

Judge Barbara Forrester sentenced Bowness to 30 months in prison and imposed a sex offenders prevention order for the next ten years. The order aims to prevent him from approaching children or allowing them into his residence. Breaching this order could result in an additional five years of imprisonment. The judge expressed concern that Bowness, who appeared unable or unwilling to control his impulses, posed a continued risk to young boys and might attempt to re-engage with minors in the future.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Malcolm Cotter commented on the case, stating that the police were satisfied with the outcome and that it reflected the seriousness with which the courts treat offenses involving child exploitation and abuse. Bowness was also barred from working with children indefinitely and was placed on the sex offenders register, marking a significant step in safeguarding the community from potential harm.