MARK TANN FROM WHITSTABLE SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND INDECENCY CHARGES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Whitstable community and beyond, Mark Tann, a well-known local figure and active member of the Labour Party, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving a young girl. Tann, aged 29 at the time of his arrest, had previously gained the trust of a mother by presenting himself as a reliable babysitter, even showcasing a photograph of himself with prominent political figures Tony and Cherie Blair to establish credibility.

According to court records, Tann pleaded guilty to a total of 24 charges, which included two counts of rape against a four-year-old girl and an additional charge of indecency with a nine-year-old girl. The crimes came to light after police investigations uncovered disturbing evidence during a search of Tann’s residence in March 2002. A photograph of the four-year-old victim was found among his belongings, revealing the extent of his inappropriate conduct.

The prosecution, led by Eleanor Laws, detailed how Tann had been operating as a babysitter in the Whitstable area since at least 2001. He had advertised his services in local shops and claimed to have a decade of experience in childcare, as well as involvement in charitable activities, including fundraising for organizations such as the NSPCC. His reputation in the community was built on these claims, which made his subsequent crimes even more shocking.

It was revealed that the mother of the nine-year-old girl contacted Tann in June 2001, trusting him to care for her daughter. During the period he babysat her, Tann reportedly engaged in disturbing behavior, including waking the girl up repeatedly to show her a pornographic video. The following morning, Tann showed her mother several photographs, one of which depicted him with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, further illustrating his attempt to project an image of respectability.

The investigation culminated in Tann’s arrest in March 2002, after police discovered the photograph of the four-year-old girl during a search of his flat. The girl had been under his care regularly from November 2001 until his arrest. Just before his detention, the young girl confided in her mother, revealing that Tann had engaged in inappropriate and “rude” behavior towards her.

During the court proceedings, the mother of the victim read a heartfelt letter describing her emotional turmoil. She expressed her feelings of being overwhelmed with fear and guilt, describing her physical reactions and the psychological impact of the betrayal. She stated, “I am physically shaking, my heart is pounding, my body feels like jelly. My brain is shell-shocked and consumed with the worst of fears for my daughter’s well-being and damage that may have been done to her sexually, psychologically and physically. A gamut of emotions fills my waking hours, including hatred, sadness, guilt that I have left this nasty man in charge of my two children, two vulnerable, precious, innocent, beautiful, trusting children.”

Commenting on the case, Pc Emma Atkins from Kent Police described Tann as “calculating, cunning, devious and [someone who] abused the parents’ trust in the worst possible way.” The sentencing reflects the severity of his crimes and the profound impact on his victims and their families, leaving a lasting scar on the Whitstable community.