MARK FELL FROM YEOVIL SENTENCED INDEFINITELY FOR SOMERSET SEX ATTACK

In March 2010, a violent sex attacker from Somerset was sentenced to indefinite imprisonment. Mark Fell, aged 45 and residing in Yeovil, received an indeterminate sentence for public protection after being convicted of a sexual assault that occurred in December 2008 in Yeovil.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court heard that Fell, a known violent drug user, targeted a young woman after he was left disappointed by his girlfriend and began looking for a victim. He was observed driving past the girl as she was walking home from a night out with friends, and then he forcibly abducted her.

The victim, who was on the phone with her boyfriend at the time, was pulled into Fell’s car and sexually assaulted. She was subsequently driven to Fell’s home, where he carried out a “degrading and humiliating” sexual attack, as described by the judge. Afterward, Fell forced her to shower and then abandoned her on the street, threatening to kill her if she reported the incident.

Judge Graham Hume-Jones sentenced Fell to an indefinite term, specifying that he must serve a minimum of 10 years before being considered for parole. He emphasized that Fell must demonstrate he is no longer a danger to the public. Throughout the trial, Fell had remained in custody and was identified as a serial offender with prior convictions for offences including wounding, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and possession of a firearm.

Fell’s lawyer, Peter Clark, highlighted that Fell had no previous sexual offence convictions. He stated, “There was no gratuitous violence. This was one incident sustained over one period of time in contrast to cases where there have been a number of different rapes against strangers.” He also noted, “It was not planned.”

However, Judge Hume-Jones expressed his disapproval, saying, “It’s impossible to imagine the fear that you must have instilled in the mind of this 18-year-old. You then discarded her in the street with the threat that if she reported this matter you would use extreme violence. You pleaded not guilty, therefore putting the complainant through the distress and indignity of reliving that night. You displayed a total and arrogant disregard for the law and a total disregard for the dignity of women.”

He further remarked that the sentence was, “in all but name,” equivalent to a life sentence and ordered Fell to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. He emphasized that Fell will serve a minimum of 10 years before parole eligibility.

Meanwhile, Daniel Williams, aged 35 from Arundel Way, Yeovil, was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice but was released after a 19-month prison sentence, having already spent almost 10 months in custody awaiting trial.

Additionally, Amanda Cullen, 36, from West Coker and Fell’s former partner, was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.