MARK BROOKS FROM SUDBURY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING A CHILD IN IPSWICH

A resident of Sudbury, Mark Brooks, has been formally sentenced after being found guilty of serious offences related to indecent images and inappropriate sexual communication involving a minor.

Brooks, aged 21 and residing on Elm Road in Sudbury, faced charges that included five counts of creating indecent images of a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a minor. These charges stemmed from an investigation that began in November of the previous year, following concerns raised by the victim’s mother.

The case was heard at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 13 February. The court handed down a sentence that includes a two-year community order, requiring Brooks to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was subjected to GPS monitoring for six months, with a specific exclusion from the victim’s village to prevent any contact. A restraining order was also issued, prohibiting Brooks from making any form of contact with the victim for a period of three years.

Furthermore, Brooks was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration. These measures are designed to monitor and restrict his activities to protect the community and prevent further offences.

The investigation revealed that Brooks had been communicating with the victim, who was under 16 at the time, via Snapchat. The communication took place between 24 August 2023 and 27 September 2023. The police’s inquiry was triggered when the victim’s mother reported her concerns, prompting authorities to act swiftly.

Detective Constable Scott Swallow, who led the investigation, explained that the victim had gone missing but was later found at Brooks’s address. This discovery led to his arrest. Digital evidence recovered from Brooks’s mobile phone confirmed that he had engaged in sexual communication with the minor and possessed multiple indecent images of the child. Despite bail conditions, Brooks continued to breach restrictions by maintaining contact with the victim. On 10 November 2024, authorities located him at the victim’s residence, where he was subsequently arrested and remanded into custody, pending further legal proceedings.