MARK LITTLE FROM LATCHFORD JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN WARRINGTON AND CHESTER

In December 2008, a disturbing case of grooming and sexual abuse involving a teacher from Latchford, Warrington, came to light, culminating in the conviction and sentencing of Mark Little, aged 28. Little was found guilty of engaging in a prolonged and illicit relationship with a 14-year-old girl, which included both penetrative and oral sex acts, carried out over several months during his tenure at a Cheshire high school.

According to court proceedings, Little began his inappropriate relationship with the young girl in May 2007. The affair persisted until October of the same year, when suspicions arose after the girl’s friends submitted a memory stick containing explicit sex chat logs between Little and the girl, downloaded from a social networking website. Despite the mounting evidence, Little maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, which involved social services and school authorities.

During a two-week trial at Chester Crown Court, the jury convicted Little on six counts of sexual assault involving a child. An additional six counts were left unresolved, with no verdict reached. Witness testimonies painted a disturbing picture of the teacher’s conduct. One young girl testified that she had seen hundreds of text messages exchanged between Little and her friend, discussing their sexual activities and preferences, including specific details about what they wanted each other to wear during their encounters.

A girl witness also revealed that the victim confided in her about the 'dirty things' she had done with Little, describing the relationship as 'disgusting' and making her feel horrible. Police investigations reconstructed the intimate online chats between Little and the girl, revealing expressions of love and mutual concern about being caught. The victim recounted that they initially exchanged mobile numbers and began texting, with one message inquiring whether Little liked her, to which he responded, 'I shouldn’t but I do.'

Evidence showed that the pair met in secluded locations, including wooded areas, often traveling in Little’s sports car, where a series of sexual acts took place. Prosecutor Simon Medland highlighted that Little discussed the possibility of leaving his fiancée for the girl, claiming he loved both her and his partner, and expressing a desire not to jeopardize his upcoming marriage.

Judge Nicholas Woodward sentenced Little to five and a half years in prison. In his remarks, the judge described the offences as one of the most severe breaches of trust imaginable, emphasizing that Little exploited the girl’s immaturity during pastoral sessions at the school. The judge also ordered Little to be placed on the sex offenders register for life and prohibited him from working with children in the future.

As Little was led away to begin his sentence, he showed no visible emotion. His address at the time was Secker Avenue, Latchford, Warrington, and his actions have left a lasting impact on the community and the victim’s family, highlighting the grave dangers of abuse within educational environments.