MARK COWARD FROM KEIGHLEY SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN LEEDS
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Keighley and the wider Leeds area, Mark Coward, a 39-year-old man, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors.The sentencing took place at Leeds Crown Court, where the court heard a detailed account of Coward’s disturbing history of grooming and assault.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Coward had engaged in a series of sexual offenses spanning several years, beginning when he was approximately 15 or 16 years old.
His victims included two young girls and a boy, all under the age of 10 at the time of the abuse.
The court found Coward guilty of five counts of rape and one charge of indecent assault related to these early offenses.
Additionally, he was convicted of another count of rape involving a different young girl around three years after the initial incidents.
The most recent conviction involved the rape of a boy under 10, which occurred when Coward was 34 years old.
The court also learned that Coward had admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl he had groomed, during which he expressed a desire to get her pregnant.
Coward’s disturbing behavior extended to telling the girl that they would pretend she was 16, a clear attempt to normalize and justify his actions.
The court heard that Coward’s offending was brought to light after the girl’s mother reported her missing.
During police interviews, Coward admitted knowing the girl was 15 and made vile comments suggesting that age was irrelevant, stating, “girls are girls, boys are boys, age doesn’t matter, she wanted it.” He also asked the girl to move in with him, further demonstrating his manipulative and predatory behavior.
As the case progressed, it was revealed that Coward had continued to threaten the girl’s new boyfriend after she had started a relationship with someone closer to her age.
Coward’s threats included menacing remarks such as, “do you know who you are f***ing with?” In April 2020, Coward was re-arrested by police, during which he admitted that he should have waited until the girl turned 16 before engaging in any sexual activity.
Throughout the court proceedings, Coward appeared via video link from prison, wearing a mask, and chose to read a book titled “Can I Forgive Myself?” as he was sentenced.
In an effort to prevent further offending and to intimidate the victims’ families, Coward also made threats against their parents, warning that bad things would happen to them.
Judge Neil Clark, presiding over the case, sentenced Coward to 28 years in prison and imposed an extended license period of two years.
Coward’s address was listed as Morning Street, Keighley, and the court’s verdict underscores the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on his victims.
