MARK HOWE FROM CREDITON CAUGHT GROOMING TEEN ON FACEBOOK NEAR EXETER

In a stark warning about the dangers of social media, a court has sentenced Mark Howe, a 50-year-old man from Crediton, for engaging in inappropriate and criminal behavior involving a 14-year-old girl. The incident highlights the risks that platforms like Facebook pose to vulnerable teenagers, especially when exploited by predators seeking to manipulate and groom young individuals.

According to court proceedings, Howe had been exchanging sexually explicit messages with the teenage girl, who was still in school uniform at the time. The messages included him referring to himself as Peter Pan and calling her Tinkerbell, a clear attempt to create a fantasy world that blurred the lines between innocence and predation. The exchanges escalated to the point where Howe persuaded her to join him for a weekend seaside trip, specifically to Burnham-on-Sea. Evidence found at her home included a packed suitcase on her bed, which she had told her mother contained belongings for the trip, although she had fabricated the story, claiming she was going with a girl named Julie Jones, who was later revealed to be a nonexistent acquaintance.

Police intervention occurred just before Howe and the girl were about to leave. A vigilant police officer, Detective Constable Dean Jeffery, was patrolling a lane off Mount Pleasant Road in Exeter when he observed a suspicious vehicle. Inside, he saw Howe and the young girl sharing a kiss and cuddling in the car. Recognizing the potential danger, the officer stopped the vehicle and discovered that the girl was only 14 years old. Howe admitted to kissing and cuddling her, claiming he was helping her cope with bullying and had picked her up from school. Further investigation revealed that Howe had a box of Viagra with him during the encounter.

Authorities also found a trail of sexually explicit texts and emails on Howe’s devices, which detailed his inappropriate relationship with the girl. These communications included explicit language and references to their supposed fantasy roles. Additionally, police uncovered ten indecent images of the girl and two downloaded movies from the internet, which Howe possessed. The evidence painted a disturbing picture of grooming and sexual misconduct.

During the court hearing at Exeter Crown Court, Howe pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual activity with a child, sexual grooming, and possession of indecent images. The prosecution was led by Lee Bremridge, who explained that Howe’s actions were uncovered after police stopped the vehicle in Exeter. The court was told that Howe admitted to kissing and cuddling the girl but denied any sexual activity. Despite his claims, the evidence was compelling enough to warrant a serious sentence.

Judge Erik Salomonsen sentenced Howe to two years in prison. In his remarks, the judge issued a stern warning about the perils of Facebook and the internet, emphasizing that this case was just one among many illustrating the dangers faced by young people online. He stressed the importance of parental vigilance and awareness of their children’s online interactions, especially for daughters who may be more vulnerable to grooming and exploitation.

Defense lawyer Nicolas Gerasimides argued that Howe was deluded into believing they were in love and that he was not a typical sexual predator. He claimed Howe was living in a fantasy world and did not deliberately seek out young girls for sexual purposes. Nonetheless, the court’s decision reflected the seriousness of Howe’s actions and the need to protect minors from such predatory behavior.