MARK HEYES INNOLDMELLS: PREDATORY PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, Mark Heyes, a 51-year-old man with a long history of sexual offences, has been convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for abusing a 13-year-old boy. The incident began when Heyes made contact with the young teenager after the boy listed toy cars for sale on an online marketplace.

In March, Heyes appeared at the boy’s residence, offering him a job, but the boy’s stepmother quickly intervened, deeming the offer inappropriate given the boy’s age. Despite this warning, Heyes continued to pursue contact with the child, which raised suspicions among the family members. They later discovered that the boy had more money than expected, which led to further investigation.

It was uncovered that Heyes had exploited the boy to facilitate sexual encounters for his own benefit and that of his acquaintances. The court heard that Heyes paid the young victim £50 for a sexual act at his home, after previously taking him to Weelsby Woods in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, where he sexually abused him. The abuse was part of a pattern of grooming and manipulation, with Heyes orchestrating these encounters with calculated intent.

The court proceedings revealed that Heyes had used the boy to offer one of his friends the opportunity to earn money through sexual activities, further demonstrating his manipulative behavior. The police investigation confirmed that Heyes’s contact with the teenager was deliberate and planned, involving threats and grooming tactics.

Mark Heyes, who resides in Ingoldmells, has a troubling criminal history. His previous convictions include gross indecency with a child in 1987, indecent assault, child abduction, and breaches of a sexual offences prevention order. He has served multiple prison sentences over the years, including a three-year term at Bradford Crown Court in 1993, a five-year sentence for child abduction in 1996, and a further three years at Sheffield Crown Court in 2003 for indecent assault. In 2012, he was jailed for 30 months at Derby Crown Court for breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

During the recent trial at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Martin Hurst described Heyes as a “determined, persistent, guileful, cynical and predatory paedophile,” emphasizing that he had shown no remorse or insight into the gravity of his actions. The judge expressed concern about the future risk Heyes poses to young boys, highlighting the danger he continues to represent.

Prosecutor Esther Harrison detailed the police investigation, which confirmed that Heyes had met the 13-year-old and taken him to woods on one occasion. On another, he brought the boy to his home in Ingoldmells, where he forced him to perform a sexual act in exchange for money. Harrison pointed out that there was clear evidence of planning and grooming, with some threats involved.

Despite being monitored by authorities due to his previous convictions, Heyes managed to conceal his move from Bradford to Ingoldmells, demonstrating a continued pattern of deceit and criminal behavior.

As part of his sentence, Heyes was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Additionally, he received a five-year extension to his prison term upon release. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community of Ingoldmells and beyond.