MARK HATCH FROM MIDDLETON SENTENCED FOR ONLINE PAEDOPHILIA AND CHILD RAPE PLOTS IN MANCHESTER

In April 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Mark Hatch, a 37-year-old man from Middleton, who engaged in heinous online conversations with known paedophile Robin Hollyson. These exchanges revealed Hatch’s disturbing fascination with child abuse, including explicit discussions about raping a five-month-old baby and encouraging Hollyson to commit further acts of sexual violence against children.

Hatch’s online chats with Hollyson, which took place between October 2013 and March 2014, were uncovered during a police raid on his Middleton residence in June 2016. The investigation was part of a broader crackdown on a paedophile ring led by Hollyson, who was later convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison for conspiracy to rape. Hollyson, from Luton, tragically took his own life in January 2016 while incarcerated. The ring was responsible for the abuse and streaming of videos involving babies, toddlers, and pre-school children over the internet.

During the police investigation, authorities found extensive evidence on Hatch’s electronic devices, including an iPhone, laptop, and iPad. The chat logs revealed Hatch’s disturbing interest in child sexual abuse, including a desire to stalk and rape young boys. Over 100 indecent images were also recovered from his devices. Hatch admitted to encouraging Hollyson to commit sex offenses, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and distributing indecent images in court.

Hatch’s conversations with Hollyson were particularly grotesque, with explicit references to Hollyson’s previous abuse of the baby. Hatch expressed a desire to see the abuse happen again and made disturbing remarks about joining a paedophile ring and participating in group abuse sessions. When Hollyson invited Hatch to a meeting where he could rape the child, Hatch declined, citing a job interview as the reason. Despite this, he continued to express interest in the crimes, asking if he could join Hollyson’s ring of abusers and watch the abuse on camera.

Further inquiries revealed that Hollyson had planned to meet Hatch so he could carry out the rape, but Hatch refused, again citing work commitments. The court heard that Hatch had also engaged in online sexual conversations with a 14-year-old boy from the USA, asking him to strip in front of a webcam. Additionally, Hatch claimed to have assaulted a 12-year-old boy at Stockport bus station and another boy aged just eight.

In one particularly disturbing chat with another paedophile, Hatch expressed a desire to commit violent acts against children, including rape at knifepoint and even snuff films, which involve the murder of victims for entertainment. Prosecutor Mr. Alaric Bassano highlighted that between 2012 and 2015, Hatch participated in 21 online chats with 21 different males, revealing explicit fantasies about depraved acts involving children. These included raping babies and toddlers, with Hatch openly discussing his interest in joining a paedophile ring and witnessing or committing “rape and snuff” scenarios.

Although Hatch did not directly conspire to commit these acts, he was aware of Hollyson’s plans to rape the baby and encouraged him, which the court found to be a serious aggravating factor. The judge, Stuart Driver QC, emphasized that Hatch’s devices contained evidence of a deep-seated sexual interest in young boys, with fantasies involving violence and rape. The court noted that Hatch’s approval of Hollyson’s videos and his encouragement of further abuse demonstrated a significant level of criminal intent.

Hatch was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for encouraging Hollyson’s crimes, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and distributing indecent images. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from using the internet or any devices capable of cloud storage and from contacting anyone under the age of 16. The court’s ruling underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing threat posed by individuals with such depraved interests.