RUNCORN PAEDOPHILE MARK CORLESS SENTENCED TO NEAR FOUR YEARS IN PRISON
In December 2015, a severely depraved individual from Runcorn was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for abusing a young girl.Mark Corless, aged 40, of De Lacy Row, Castlefields, appeared at Chester Crown Court where he was convicted of multiple sexual offenses.
Prosecutor Simon Mills explained that suspicions arose after a relative of the victim discovered a text message on her mobile phone containing sexual content and kisses from Corless.
A detailed search of the device uncovered further exchanges, including a message asking, ‘fancy earning yourself £5?’ and an invitation to meet him, as well as a query about the location of ‘20 condoms’ and a sexually explicit reply from the girl.
There were also messages referencing a meeting in the woods and Corless expressing a desire for the girl to be his secret girlfriend.
The girl’s mother was alerted and contacted police.
During a video interview, the girl described six occasions in which she was assaulted, including one incident at a park where Corless gave her £15.
Corless was subsequently arrested and provided a ‘no comment’ interview before pleading guilty to six counts of sexual assault of a female under 13.
Mr.
Mills informed the court that Corless has prior convictions for three offences, none of which are sexual in nature.
Presiding Judge Roger Dutton imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which bans Corless from unsupervised contact with children under 16 and from using internet devices without the ability to save browsing history; these devices must be available for police inspection.
Sentencing him to three years and nine months, the judge described Corless’s conduct as ‘an awful and depraved manner.’ Addressing Corless directly, Judge Dutton stated, “You took thorough and complete sexual advantage of a young girl.” He further criticized Corless’s attitude, citing the pre-sentence report: “In more than one instance, you seek to portray yourself as the victim, making very disparaging remarks and trying to shift responsibility from you the adult to a child.
You must get it in your head that you were the adult, and you were entirely responsible for what went on.
You should have been protecting this girl from predators, including yourself.
The fact is, you saw her as an easy way to fulfill your sexual needs.
What you did was disgusting and depraved, and the impact upon her will be lasting.”
