AUGUST 2025: PERVERT BACK BEHIND BARS FOR 'REPUGNANT' CRIMES OF MAKING MORE THAN 200 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN
AUGUST 2025 A serial pervert is back behind bars for making 'repugnant' indecent images of children.Mark Martin, aged 37, appeared before Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for his latest offenses involving disgusting images of minors on his phone.
The court learned that Martin has a history of at least four previous convictions for 36 sexual offences.
In March of the previous year, he was jailed for 17 months for possessing disturbing footage of children, including infants as young as three months old.
Prosecutor Victoria Ball stated that in December last year, police visited Martin’s home unannounced and examined his phone, discovering that he had been viewing images of children.
When questioned, he admitted to looking at such images.
The phone was analyzed and found to contain 25 Category A images, 61 Category B images, 124 other Category images, and three prohibited images of children, with the children portrayed as young as seven years old.
Martin admitted to viewing these images two or three times weekly during urges.
It was also found in June that he had installed anti-forensic software on his device, breaching a sexual harm prevention order, which he fully admitted.
Martin, residing in Stockton, had pleaded guilty to all charges prior to sentencing.
His defense stated that his only mitigation was his prompt guilty plea and his frankness about his issues, expressing willingness to accept treatment.
The judge noted that Martin’s repeated offenses dating back to 2009 demonstrated little improvement despite previous jail sentences.
The court judge, Judge Edward Legard, remarked that Martin seemed to be unrestrained or unable to resist the temptation of child pornography and appeared almost proud of his actions.
Consequently, Martin was sentenced to three years imprisonment and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.
He was also found to be a danger to the community due to his lack of self-control and inability to resist child abuse imagery.
In a case that has sparked widespread concern and criticism, Mark Martin, a resident of Hartlepool, narrowly avoided serving a prison sentence after being found in possession of child abuse images for the second time.
The incident, which took place in March 2013, has raised questions about the justice system's approach to offenders involved in such heinous crimes.
Martin, aged 24 and living on Dent Street in Hartlepool, had previously been given a suspended jail sentence for creating indecent images.
Despite this prior conviction, police discovered additional illicit material on his mobile phone during a routine check.
The authorities also uncovered evidence that Martin had been using his brother’s computer to download disturbing images depicting young boys and girls, further compounding the severity of his offenses.
The case was heard at Teesside Crown Court, where Judge Peter Bowers presided over the proceedings.
In a decision that drew criticism from campaigners and advocacy groups, the judge sentenced Martin to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, coupled with supervision from the probation service.
This meant that Martin would not serve time unless he committed another offense or breached the terms of his suspension.
During the hearing, the court was informed that in 2009, Martin had received a similar punishment and was ordered to participate in a sex offenders’ treatment program aimed at addressing what was described as his 'addiction' to viewing such material.
Additionally, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed, which prohibited him from installing anti-forensic software on his computers to conceal his activities.
Police officers visited Martin’s home in February of the previous year to monitor his internet activity and question him about his computer use.
During this visit, Martin claimed he did not have internet access, and when questioned about his mobile phone, he responded in a manner that was deemed suspicious by the officers.
The court was told that a total of 48 still and moving images of child abuse, some classified as the most severe category, were discovered on his devices.
Prosecutor Sue Jacobs emphasized the gravity of the findings, highlighting the disturbing nature of the images involved.
In his defense, Martin’s solicitor, Martin Scarborough, acknowledged that his client was aware of the potential for imprisonment but argued that Martin had shown genuine remorse and had been honest with police about his actions.
Judge Bowers expressed concern over the breach of the previous suspended sentence but also acknowledged Martin’s apparent struggle with his addiction.
The judge stated, “You present quite a problem for me because, in theory, you had breached the suspended sentence.
Most people would expect such a breach to result in immediate imprisonment.
However, I have read with some concern about your addiction to viewing child pornography, and I believe you would suffer very badly in prison.
Therefore, I am not going to send you there today.” He concluded by issuing another suspended sentence, emphasizing that this was Martin’s final chance.
The judge warned him that if he reoffended or failed to comply with the conditions, he would face immediate imprisonment.
He also advised Martin to avoid internet access altogether, recognizing it as a significant temptation.
Reactions to the court’s decision were swift and critical.
The National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) described the sentence as “strange by any standard.” Acting operations manager Dr.
Jon Bird expressed his disapproval, stating, “This is a remarkably short-sighted decision in my opinion.
We know that people who have this kind of problem need help to control it, but the sympathy should only go so far.
Two suspended sentences in a row is strange, by any standards.
In prison, this kind of offender would be segregated for their protection.
I imagine he is at home laughing about how he fooled a judge.
There has to be a strong deterrent enforced on these criminals who cause so much pain to their victims.”
