MAN SENTENCED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENSES POSING AS A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A PERVERT from St Helens thought he was chatting to 12-year-old girls online when he sent sexual images and videos.Mark Woodward, 53, of Lingmell Avenue, Carr Mill appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, November 21 where it was revealed that he sent vile messages on Kik Messenger to undercover police officers who were posing as 12-year-old girls.
On February 20 of this year, Woodward spoke to ‘Dani’.
Despite her telling him she was 12 years old straight away he still carried on the conversation.
Derek Jones, prosecuting, said: “‘Dani’ sent a picture of herself and he told her she was pretty and asked if she would like a kiss and a cuddle from him.” After that message the conversation ended but the inappropriate messaging didn’t stop.
A few days later the court heard how he engaged in another conversation on the same messaging platform with a different girl called ‘Seren’.
Mr Jones said: “The defendant contacted her, and she told him she was 12 but it didn’t stop him.
He told her age didn’t matter and that he was 53.
He was then sent a picture of who he believed was ‘Seren’ in pyjamas.
He told her she was “pretty” and asked if she wanted to “kiss him at some point” and if she would like to touch his penis.
He also asked if she “had ever had sex before” and asked her if she would like to perform sex acts with him as well as sending graphic messages of what he would like to do to her.
Woodward then sent two videos of himself masturbating and an image of his penis which he told her to “show her school friends”.
Mr Jones added: “He also told her sex was his favourite past time and spoke about girls being more active before boys.” Woodward also suggested that she should send him indecent videos, the court was told.
Woodward was arrested on March 7 and answered no comment in police interviews.
Two phones were recovered which had the conversations on and the pictures he had sent.
Mr Jones said: “He is 53 years old and of previous good character.
He told me outside that he would like the chance to go on any programmes and realises he needs assistance.” Woodward, who was representing himself in court, told the judge he had evidence of a medical condition called non-epileptic attack disorder when asked if he wanted to say anything.
Woodward said he was born with the condition but was formally diagnosed in 2007.
He said: “It is a stress disorder which causes me to black out and have fits.” He said the condition can also cause “tempter fits” which he said were “rare” in his adult life.
He also said when the offences were committed it was a “time of stress” and he “did not remember” how the offences happened.
Speaking in court he said: “I am sorry I didn’t mean to cause any offence I was trying to relive my stress at the time, but I don’t know what that stress was.
It is what it is.” Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne, said: “These offences are very serious and very concerning.
I have to assess the level of risk you pose to young children and to the community.
“I have to consider these were undercover operatives and not real children.
It’s a very difficult decision.
“It is very serious behaviour however you are a man of previous good character and pleaded guilty at the first chance.
You also didn’t lie about your age or try to meet up.
You are in a sense of denial probably due to the shame and guilt for what you have done.
“I am satisfied you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation as you are a man of previous good character.
The risk you pose can be dealt with.” Woodward was sentenced to 24 months in prison suspended for 24 months.
He must also sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Judge Byrne added: “I have to warn you if you breach the order you will be brought back before me.”
