MARK FURNESS FROM ALLINGTON AND WADHURST SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Allington and Wadhurst, Mark Furness, a 40-year-old man, has been sentenced to three years and three months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a vast collection of indecent images of children. The investigation was initiated when police raided Furness's residence on Beaver Road in Allington during August, uncovering a horrifying library of over 46,000 illicit images and video clips stored on his computers.

The court heard that Furness not only kept this disturbing collection for his own gratification but also actively shared these images with other paedophiles through online platforms such as Skype. Among the images seized, 951 were video clips, with 461 classified at the highest levels of severity—levels four and five—depicting the most heinous acts of abuse, including sadism and the torture of infants less than 12 months old. Judge Philip Statman expressed his profound disgust upon viewing some of the material, describing it as some of the worst he had ever encountered in his judicial career.

During the proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court, the judge detailed the extent of Furness’s criminal activities. He admitted to 21 charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The court was informed that Furness used digital communication tools, particularly Skype, to disseminate these images to a wider audience, thus perpetuating the cycle of abuse and exploitation.

Judge Statman emphasized the gravity of the offences, stating that Furness suffers from a serious sexual deviancy with a particular predilection for young boys. The court was told that Furness had engaged in discussions about his preferences within chatrooms, further highlighting the premeditated and calculated nature of his offending.

While the court acknowledged that Furness’s actions could have warranted an indefinite detention for public protection, the judge ultimately decided against such a sentence. He explained that to impose a minimum of four years would be necessary for such a measure, but this would be manifestly excessive given the circumstances. Instead, Furness was ordered to participate in a sex offender treatment program as part of his licensing conditions. Additionally, he will be prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults and will be registered as a sex offender for life.

Judge Statman also remarked that if Furness’s sentence is reviewed in the future, the court should consider the disturbing images he was shown during the trial, which serve as a stark reminder of the severity of his crimes.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Mike Brown commented on the case, stating, “Furness initially presented as a pleasant and respectable individual. It became very apparent, however, that he led a secret life where the appalling rape of children and the sharing of vile images of abuse with others was acceptable. He boasted to others of the vast quantities he had available and actively engaged in networking with others with similar interests.”

Judge Statman described the images as some of the worst he had ever seen, categorizing them into levels from 1 to 5, with level 5 representing the most severe forms of abuse, including sadism and bestiality involving children. Kent Police’s Public Protection Detective Inspector Matthew Long reaffirmed the force’s commitment to combating child abuse, stating, “Kent Police remains determined to seek out those individuals who abuse children and are engaged in child abuse image offences. We are committed to identifying offenders and bringing them before the courts. We will continue to work, together with partner agencies, including CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre), to stop this horrific crime.”