MARK BOYCE FROM HULL AND WHITBY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ABUSE IMAGES

In a significant case brought to justice by specialist detectives from North Yorkshire Police, Mark Anthony Boyce, a 56-year-old man with connections to Whitby and now residing on Cheltenham Avenue in Bransholme, Hull, has been sentenced for a series of disturbing offences involving child exploitation and indecent images.

Boyce appeared at York Crown Court on Thursday, April 23, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the possession, creation, and distribution of indecent images of children. The court heard that he had amassed a staggering collection of illegal material, including 11,145 images classified as the most severe Category A, along with 12,177 Category B images and an additional 121,047 Category C images. Furthermore, Boyce admitted to distributing two images classified as Category C, possessing 150 prohibited images of children, and holding 114 extreme pornographic images involving minors.

Following his arrest, Boyce was remanded in custody for six months, and he was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course. As part of his sentence, he has been placed on the sex offenders’ register, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes. His sentencing comes after a thorough investigation that began in early 2019 when North Yorkshire Police received information indicating that indecent images had been shared online from an address in Whitby.

Authorities worked diligently to develop intelligence around the case, which led to the arrest of Boyce on October 15, 2019. The police’s Online Abuse and Exploitation Team executed search warrants at his home, workplace, and the vehicles he used, seizing a laptop, mobile phone, and tablet devices. These items were subjected to detailed analysis by the force’s Digital Forensics Unit to uncover evidence of his illegal activities.

In addition to the digital evidence, investigations extended into Boyce’s involvement with a local swimming club, where he served as chairman and coach. Fortunately, no offences related to the club or its members were uncovered during the investigation, providing some reassurance to concerned parents and the community.

The investigation took a particularly disturbing turn when authorities discovered two videos within Boyce’s collection that appeared to depict a man raping a girl estimated to be between ten and twelve years old. Working in collaboration with US law enforcement agencies and the Queensland Police Service in Australia, detectives DC Clair Gascoyne and her team managed to identify both the young victim and the suspect involved. The suspect was identified as Jesse Anthony Garcia, aged 29, from Goodyear, Arizona.

Garcia was arrested on March 22, 2020, and charged with the sexual exploitation of a minor. He appeared before Maricopa County Superior Court the following day and was held on a $1 million bond. His case remains ongoing, but the child victim has been safeguarded from further abuse, thanks to the coordinated efforts of international law enforcement agencies.

Boyce’s case highlights the ongoing fight against online child exploitation and the importance of international cooperation in bringing offenders to justice. The community can take some solace in knowing that such heinous crimes are being actively investigated and prosecuted, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.