MARK WOODS FROM STEWARTON SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNDERAGE GIRLS ON FACEBOOK IN GLASGOW

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Stewarton and the wider Glasgow area, Mark Woods has been sentenced to prison for engaging in sexual activities with underage girls he met through social media platforms, specifically Facebook. The Glasgow High Court heard detailed accounts of Woods' disturbing conduct, which spanned over a period of nearly two years and involved multiple victims.

According to court proceedings, Woods, aged 19 at the time, established online friendships with three young girls, some as young as 12 years old. These online interactions quickly escalated into physical meetings, during which Woods engaged in sexual acts with the minors. The first known encounter occurred when one of the girls traveled to Woods’ residence in Stewarton, where he lived with his parents. Following this initial meeting, Woods continued to meet with her, and on at least one occasion, the girl had to seek medical attention at a sexual health clinic to obtain a morning-after pill, indicating the serious nature of their encounters.

The court was informed that Woods had sexual relations with one of the girls between April 2015 and March 2017. During this period, he played computer games with her, which served as a cover for their meetings. The court heard that Woods had raped a 12-year-old girl, a charge to which he had previously admitted. His actions included coercing the girl to produce indecent images and videos of herself, further highlighting the predatory nature of his conduct.

Another victim, initially aged 13, was targeted after Woods sent her a friend request on Facebook in September 2015. Over the following 14 months, Woods engaged in almost weekly sexual contact with her, both at his home and her residence. Their relationship included consensual sexual activity in September 2016, despite her young age. The court was told that Woods had also manipulated her into sending explicit images.

The third girl, also aged between 13 and 14, became involved with Woods after they began communicating via private messages in November 2015. During their exchanges, Woods made inappropriate comments about her appearance and asked for explicit pictures. Despite her telling him she was 14, Woods persisted in pursuing a sexual relationship, which culminated in them having sex on November 25, 2015. The sexual activity continued into early 2017.

Woods’ criminal behavior was initially brought to light in September 2016 when he faced charges related to his actions. He was released on bail, but he subsequently violated the conditions by attempting to contact one of the victims again through messaging. This breach led to his remand in custody in March of this year.

During sentencing, Brian McConnachie QC, representing Woods, stated that his client had come to realize the wrongfulness of his actions. However, Lord Beckett emphasized the severity of the crimes, concluding that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. Woods was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Additionally, he will be subject to supervision for three years after his release and will be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.