MARK HUCKERBY FROM BISHOP’S STORTFORD FAILS APPEAL IN SEX CRIME CASE

In a recent legal development, Mark Huckerby, a man residing in Bishop’s Stortford, has had his appeal against a conviction for child sexual abuse rejected by the highest courts. The case, which garnered significant attention, involved serious allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a young girl, and the outcome underscores the judicial system’s stance on such offenses.

Huckerby, aged 32 and formerly living at Swallow Court off Anchor Street in Bishop’s Stortford, was sentenced to a two-year prison term at Luton Crown Court on July 11 of the previous year. The conviction stemmed from two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, charges that he vehemently denied. Despite his denial, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him, and he was subsequently incarcerated.

On Thursday, January 24, 2008, Huckerby appeared before London’s Criminal Appeal Court to challenge his conviction, claiming that it was “unsafe” due to alleged flaws in the trial judge’s summing-up to the jury. He argued that the judge’s instructions may have influenced the jury improperly, thus affecting the fairness of the trial. However, the appeal was firmly rejected by the judges.

Mr. Justice Wilkie, sitting alongside Mr. Justice Wyn Williams, addressed the court’s concerns and emphasized that the evidence of abuse was compelling. The young girl involved in the case confided in her mother about the abuse, revealing that she had been made to perform a sexual act on Huckerby approximately 30 times. The court noted that this disclosure was a critical piece of evidence that supported the conviction.

In dismissing the appeal, Mr. Justice Wilkie stated, “The judge’s summing up was entirely fair. There is no reason to regard the conviction as unsafe,” reaffirming the strength of the evidence and the appropriateness of the original verdict.

Earlier in September 2007, the case had already attracted media attention when the victim’s mother described the profound impact of the abuse on her daughter’s life. The girl, who was only six years old at the time, had to give evidence via video link during the trial. Huckerby, who denied the charges, was found guilty of two counts of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity, with the offenses occurring between June 2004 and May 2006.

The mother expressed her distress, stating, “He could be out on licence after one year. I knew he wouldn’t get life but she’ll have this for the rest of her life.” She also revealed that her daughter, now eight, has had to endure a lifetime of trauma due to the abuse.

At the sentencing hearing at St Albans Crown Court, Judge John Bevan QC described Huckerby as a “ladies’ man” with a history of unsatisfactory relationships, which he used as an indication of sexual instability. The judge also ordered Huckerby to register as a sex offender indefinitely and imposed restrictions on his contact with children.

The mother, who is married and now lives away from Bishop’s Stortford with her daughter, chose to speak publicly about her family’s ordeal in the interest of public safety. She recounted the emotional toll the case has taken on her family, especially since her daughter’s revelation in June of the previous year. The girl’s disclosure about inappropriate touching extended beyond her own experience, as she had also touched a young boy at a childminder’s, saying, “He makes me do things,” a statement that shocked her mother and highlighted the severity of the situation.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts of the justice system to protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation and abuse.