MARK FLACK AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCE IN DURHAM AND HORDEN
A man previously convicted for possessing nearly 60,000 indecent images of children in 2015 has been returned to custody after authorities uncovered additional illicit material.Mark Flack appeared before Durham Crown Court via a video link from Durham Prison, where he is currently held on remand.
His arrest followed police visits to his residence in Horden during October and again in December.
The 57-year-old defendant, residing at Fifth Street in Horden, pleaded guilty to three counts of making (downloading) indecent images of a child.
These charges relate to offences committed between November 7, 2016, and the date of the first police raid in October of the previous year.
Prosecutor Chris Baker told the court that the recent charges involve the discovery of 260 indecent images, including four categorized in the most serious level, on devices that were seized during the initial police inspection of Flack’s home.
It was also revealed to the court that Flack has already admitted to violating a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
This order was imposed following his previous conviction in 2015, which resulted in a 21-month prison sentence.
During that case, which was heard at Ipswich Crown Court, a total of 58,493 indecent images of children were found on multiple electronic devices taken from Flack’s former residence in Red Lodge, Suffolk, in October 2014.
The sentencing in the current case has been postponed due to ongoing police investigations.
When officers returned to Flack’s address in Horden in December, they recovered a computer hard drive.
Its contents are still under examination, and police have indicated that further work is necessary to determine the creation dates of any additional images that may be stored on it.
Prosecutor Chris Baker informed the court, “Further investigations are being carried out by police in relation to the hard drive.
The key question will be whether any new images found are recent or date from prior to the previous investigation.” Defence lawyer Robert Mochrie stated on Flack's behalf, “It appears a device was overlooked during the initial inquiry in October, and it has since been used again.
Mark Flack has pleaded guilty to the latest charges.
His only previous conviction was the 2015 case, for which he served time in prison.” Mochrie added that his client has never had any opportunity for probation or intervention programs aimed at addressing his behavior, as he was directly sent to prison following his first conviction.
The situation underscores the ongoing concern regarding Flack’s criminal behavior and the serious nature of the offenses involved.
—————————————————————————————————— MARK FLACK FROM RED LODGE SENTENCED FOR GROOMING VULNERABLE TEENAGER IN WAKEFIELD A man identified as Mark Flack, residing in Red Lodge, has been formally sentenced after being found guilty of grooming and encouraging a vulnerable teenage boy to participate in sexual activities.
The court proceedings revealed that Flack targeted the young victim by carefully inducing his interest, exploiting his age and vulnerability to carry out his misconduct.
According to court reports, the offenses took place at Flack’s residence, where he engaged in inappropriate and illegal conduct with the teenage boy.
The court highlighted the calculated nature of Flack’s actions, emphasizing how he exploited the trust and innocence of the young victim for his own gratification.
In response to the severity of the crimes, the judge handed down a substantial sentence, which includes a sexual harm prevention order designed to restrict Flack’s contact with minors and prevent any further offenses.
Additionally, Flack has been ordered to register on the lifelong sex offenders' register, ensuring ongoing monitoring and public safety.
The case underscores the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation, especially in cases where the offender manipulates trust and exploits their position of power.
The court’s decision aims to serve as a deterrent to others who might consider engaging in similar misconduct, and it reinforces the legal system’s commitment to protecting young people from sexual abuse.
—————————————————————————————————— 2023 Mark Flack, 57, was originally jailed for 21 months at Ipswich Crown Court in 2015 after police uncovered tens of thousands of indecent images of children on devices at his former home in Red Lodge.
Following that conviction, he was placed under strict monitoring conditions, including a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and long-term notification requirements.
However, those restrictions were later breached.
Officers carried out an unannounced visit to his address in Horden, County Durham, on 25 October last year, where they discovered undeclared electronic devices.
Analysis revealed hundreds more illegal images, some created after his earlier conviction.
At Durham Crown Court, prosecutors outlined how Flack had taken steps to conceal his online activity.
He was found to be using an alias to access websites, alongside software designed to hide browsing history and messaging activity—actions that directly violated the terms imposed in 2015.
Further searches in December led to the seizure of additional tablets and hard drives that had not been disclosed during the initial visit.
Forensic examination of just one device uncovered over 15,000 indecent images involving young children.
The court heard that Flack’s conduct showed a continued and deliberate disregard for the restrictions placed upon him.
He admitted multiple offences, including creating indecent images and breaching court orders.
In mitigation, it was suggested some material dated back to before his earlier sentence, although prosecutors confirmed further content had been obtained after his release.
The judge concluded that Flack had deliberately concealed devices from officers and continued to engage in prohibited behaviour.
He was sentenced to a total of 30 months’ imprisonment, which included additional time for breaching court orders.
The court also imposed indefinite notification requirements and extended the Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
All seized devices were ordered to be destroyed.
