MARK PAUL FROM MAIDENHEAD SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN WORCESTER COURT

In December 2001, a disturbing case emerged involving Mark Paul, a man from Maidenhead, Berkshire, whose dark dealings with children have shocked the local community and beyond.

It all began when a mother, seeking companionship and connection, placed an advertisement in a contact magazine over a year ago. As a single parent with two young children, she was approached by Mark Paul, who introduced himself under his real name. Their correspondence, which included letters and phone calls, appeared to be innocent at first, with Paul presenting a friendly and trustworthy facade. She recalls, “I suppose I was pretty trusting. He seemed very nice.”

Over time, a friendship developed as Paul visited her home, and she believed she was forming a genuine connection with him. However, her sense of security was shattered when, in February, she received a call from Detective Sergeant David Williams of Herefordshire CID. The officer warned her that Mark Paul might not be the person he appeared to be and advised her to keep her children away from him while an investigation was launched.

Unbeknownst to her, police had been monitoring Paul, who had attracted attention from law enforcement agencies across different regions. Intelligence reports uncovered a sinister side to the 38-year-old professional photographer from Maidenhead. Authorities suspected him of being involved in the operation of a child model agency and linked him to a history of possessing indecent images of children. His name was registered on the Sex Offenders Register, although only his name and address were listed, with no details of his occupation.

As the investigation progressed, it was confirmed that Mark Paul had committed heinous acts. The mother’s worst fears materialized when evidence proved that her young son had been a victim of his abuse. The emotional toll was immense, but she displayed remarkable resilience, maintaining her composure to support the police as they gathered evidence.

Within two days of his arrest, Paul was formally charged. Over the following months, investigators collected substantial evidence, which ultimately led to his guilty plea at Worcester Crown Court. Last week, he admitted to indecent assault on a child under the age of 10. The court sentenced him to four years in prison and mandated that he be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Additionally, due to an unrelated fraud charge prosecuted by customs and excise, Paul received a further four-year sentence.

The court also issued a strict order prohibiting him from working with children ever again. The mother expressed a sense of relief, describing the sentence as a “good sentence” by current standards and viewing it as the conclusion of “nine months of hell” while awaiting trial. She issued a warning to other women considering similar contact, emphasizing the importance of thorough vetting of responses to ads, meeting in public places initially, and refraining from introducing children until complete trust is established.

Reflecting on her ordeal, she said, “It’s sickening, all the time Paul was courting me, he was targeting my boy.” Despite her understandable anger, she chooses not to show it outwardly, believing that doing so would not benefit her son. Instead, she focuses on helping him move forward, although she admits that rebuilding trust will take a very long time—possibly forever. Her primary concern remains her son’s well-being and ensuring he understands that he was not at fault in this terrible situation.