FORMER COUNCILLOR WHO SEXUALLY ABUSED BOY IS JAILED FOR 12 YEARS
A councillor in Darlington from the North East region, Mark Burton, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a boy while serving in office.
During his tenure as a local government representative, Burton engaged in sexual acts with a young boy, which resulted in the child suffering from mental health problems.
Burton, aged 57, appeared before Durham Crown Court on Tuesday to receive his sentence for multiple charges, including assault by penetration, three counts of sexual assault of a minor, two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and one charge of encouraging a child to participate in sexual acts.
He was convicted of these crimes after a trial.
This was not Burton’s first encounter with the law concerning sexual misconduct.
In 2012, he served 22 months behind bars for sexually assaulting a girl at an event related to his re-election campaign.
The charges he faced in the recent case occurred prior to his 2012 conviction.
Court proceedings revealed that Burton, who lives in Langley Moor, County Durham, began abusing the boy shortly after he was elected as a councillor.
The assaults happened on multiple separate occasions, and the misconduct was only uncovered following Burton’s 2012 imprisonment.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
A councillor in Darlington from the North East region, Mark Burton, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a boy while serving in office. During his tenure as a local government representative, Burton engaged in se...
Prison sentence
12 years
A councillor in Darlington from the North East region, Mark Burton, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a boy while serving in office
Prison sentence
22 months
In 2012, he served 22 months behind bars for sexually assaulting a girl at an event related to his re-election campaign
