MARK HEMUS AND HIS SHOCKING ATTEMPT TO ABUSE YOUNG GIRLS IN SOMERSET AND HEATHROW
A 37-year-old man from Portishead, Somerset, identified as Mark Hemus, has been sentenced to a total of four years in connection with a disturbing plan to sexually abuse young girls.Hemus, an IT engineer by profession, was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) in October of the previous year after he checked into a hotel near Heathrow Airport with the intent to meet and abuse two young girls.
The investigation revealed that Hemus had been actively engaging in online conversations with other paedophiles, discussing his sexual interests in children.
Under a pseudonym, he communicated with a user who claimed to have access to two girls, aged eight and 11.
During these exchanges, Hemus spoke in detail about his intentions and the types of sexual acts he planned to carry out.
The online discussions demonstrated a clear and disturbing intent to commit abuse.
The planned meeting was set for October 28 at the Premier Inn Hotel located at Heathrow Terminal 4.
Hemus went as far as booking a room at the hotel, indicating his serious intent.
However, his plans were thwarted when NCA officers apprehended him in the hotel foyer shortly after he checked in.
During the arrest, authorities recovered a rucksack from his hotel room, which contained items such as Fruit Shoot drinks, sweets, and toys—presumably intended as gifts for the children.
Hemus’s criminal history includes previous convictions related to indecent images of children, with offences dating back to 2005 and again in 2020.
He is currently under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which prohibits him from using false identities, IP addresses, or aliases online.
Despite these restrictions, Hemus’s online activities and his travel to Heathrow demonstrated a continued pattern of dangerous behavior.
When questioned by authorities, Hemus initially claimed he had traveled to London for a medical appointment, which was later canceled.
However, he eventually admitted that he had come to Heathrow with the intention of sexually abusing the young girls.
He claimed, however, that he did not go through with the act because he was scared.
Hemus faced multiple charges, including arranging or facilitating the sexual assault of a child, breaching his SHPO, and possessing prohibited images of children.
He pleaded guilty to these charges at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on October 31 of the previous year.
At a subsequent hearing at Isleworth Crown Court this month, Hemus was sentenced to four years in total—two years to be served in prison and two years on licence.
NCA Senior Manager Adam Priestley commented on the case, emphasizing that Hemus’s online communications and his travel plans clearly indicated a deliberate attempt to commit sexual abuse against young girls.
He described Hemus as a persistent offender who poses a significant threat to children.
Priestley underscored the importance of the investigation, stating that disrupting individuals like Hemus is a top priority for the NCA.
The agency remains committed to protecting children from harm and will continue to take decisive action against offenders who seek to exploit vulnerable minors.
