MARK EYLES SHOCKING SEX ABUSE SCANDAL IN DARLINGTON AND NEWTON AYCLIFFE LEISURE CENTRES
In a disturbing case that has sparked outrage among parents and community members, Mark Eyles, a 23-year-old former lifeguard from Newton Aycliffe, has been found guilty of engaging in a series of sexual misconducts involving underage girls at leisure centres in Darlington and Newton Aycliffe.The incident, which took place in July 1999, has left many questioning the safety protocols and oversight at these popular recreational facilities.
Mark Eyles, who was employed at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington, was charged with six counts of indecent assault on girls under the age of 16, as well as one count of indecency with a child under 14.
The court proceedings revealed that Eyles, at the time 21 years old, exploited his position of authority to manipulate and coerce young girls into performing sexual acts.
As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders register, but notably, he received an 18-month prison sentence that was suspended, sparking widespread anger and disappointment among the victims' families and the local community.
The court heard that during the offences, Eyles targeted a group of teenage girls who frequented the leisure centre.
The girls, described as being under 16, were reportedly subjected to Eyles' manipulative tactics in a secluded room known as the engine room.
Evidence indicated that he took two 15-year-old girls into this room, locked the door, and turned off the lights.
Inside, he persuaded one girl to perform two sexual acts on him while her friend watched.
This disturbing incident was followed by another encounter, two weeks later, when the same girl returned with a different friend, and Eyles again persuaded them to perform oral sex.
Further allegations revealed that Eyles approached a 13-year-old girl and her friend, performing a lewd act in an attempt to lure them into the room.
However, the girls refused to comply with his advances.
The offences only came to light after Eyles, who was then residing on West Auckland Road in Darlington, barred the girls from the leisure centre for misbehaving.
The girls threatened to expose his misconduct, leading to the investigation and subsequent court case.
During the sentencing, Judge Peter Fox described the girls involved as “silly girls,” a comment that drew criticism from the victims' families.
A mother of one of the victims expressed her outrage, calling the judge’s remarks “disgusting” and emphasizing that the girls were not “silly,” but rather vulnerable victims who trusted Eyles due to his position of authority.
She questioned how Eyles would feel if it were his own child involved in such a situation.
Philip Haymer, the manager of the Dolphin Centre, publicly described Eyles as a “magnet for females of all ages,” a statement that has further fueled community concern about the safety and supervision at the leisure centre.
The case has left many residents questioning how such misconduct could occur within a facility that is supposed to be a safe environment for young people.
The community now calls for stricter oversight and measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
