MARK BROWN FROM LEIGH PARK SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS FOR ABUSING SCHOOLGIRL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Leigh Park, a man named Mark Brown has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl. The incident, which spanned over two years, involved Brown taking advantage of the girl’s vulnerability and culminated in a disturbing act of intercourse. The court proceedings revealed that Brown, aged 35 at the time, exploited the girl’s trust and innocence, with the abuse continuing over an extended period.

The case came to light after the victim, who was only 14 years old at the time, found the courage to confide in her parents. Her statement to the police detailed her feelings of fear and shame, as well as Brown’s manipulative threats. Prosecutor Nick Rowland recounted that during her police interview, the girl expressed her feelings of horror and fear, explaining that Brown had warned her not to tell anyone or he would get into trouble. She also feared that Brown might hurt her if she tried to stop him.

Following her disclosure, police officers conducted a search of Brown’s residence in Leigh Park. During the search, they discovered photographs of Brown and the girl together, some of which depicted her in her underwear. Additionally, tucked inside a pornographic magazine, officers found 17 indecent images of girls aged between nine and 16, which had been downloaded from the internet. Brown’s computer contained a further 600 images of a similar nature, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behavior.

During the court hearing, Brown’s defense lawyer, Anthony Bailey, presented a psychological report suggesting that Brown’s understanding of sexual boundaries was naive. Bailey argued that Brown did not fully comprehend the girl’s extreme vulnerability and believed she was a consenting adult. He expressed remorse on Brown’s behalf, stating that his client was sorry for his actions.

However, Judge David Selwood emphasized that Brown’s severe deafness played a role in his offending. The judge explained that Brown’s lack of social integration, due to his deafness, had contributed to his naivety regarding sexual conduct. The judge stated, “From what I understand, you have a naivety in sexual matters and because you are severely deaf, you have not learned through social interaction the normal boundaries of sexual behavior.”

At the time of sentencing, Brown, whose last known address was a bail hostel in Basingstoke, admitted to multiple charges, including unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent assault, indecency with a child, taking indecent photographs, and downloading indecent images from the internet. The court ordered that Brown be placed on the sex offenders’ register, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community.