Nottingham grooming predator sentenced to 20 years in prison

Mark Shephard, a 61-year-old man from Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, was convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving two young girls. The offences include one count of rape, three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of assault by touching, and causing a child under 13 to view an obscene image. These assaults spanned over a decade, and the victims displayed remarkable bravery in giving detailed evidence. Nottingham Crown Court found Shephard not guilty on some charges but guilty of these specific offenses last week. He was immediately sentenced to 20 years in prison. Nottinghamshire Police described him as a 'calculating and manipulative paedophile' and highlighted the severity of his crimes, which involved grooming and pressuring the victims to remain silent. Detective Sergeant Hayley Denoon expressed relief at his conviction, noting the victims’ accounts as 'measured and powerful' in stark contrast to Shephard’s denials during his police interviews.