MARK OWENS FROM ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, MERTHYR TYDFIL, AND PORT TALBOT SENTENCED FOR LIFE FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In June 2009, a disturbing case involving the sexual abuse of young children culminated in the life imprisonment of Mark Lee Owens, a man whose heinous acts spanned several years and multiple locations, including Ashton-under-Lyne, Merthyr Tydfil, and Port Talbot. Owens, aged 43 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of raping at least three children, some as young as five, and coercing them into sexual acts with each other, in addition to other severe sexual misconduct.

The court heard that Owens had access to his young victims from 1999 onwards, with the abuse occurring over an extended period. One particularly shocking incident took place in an attic in the Port Talbot area, where Owens subjected a five-year-old girl to rape after forcing her to watch him simulate sexual acts on an inflatable doll. Judge Huw Davies QC described Owens' behavior as treating the abuse “as some form of entertainment,” highlighting the depravity of his actions during his sentencing at Swansea Crown Court.

Owens, who was previously known as David Thomas Owens, showed no visible reaction as he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge recommending a minimum term of eight years before eligibility for parole. His address listed in court was in Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester, but at the time of the offenses, he was residing in the Port Talbot area. His victims ranged in age from five upwards, and the abuse spanned several years, involving two girls and two boys. One of the boys remains too traumatised to speak about what happened to him.

In addition to the acts Owens committed himself, he also forced two boys to engage in sexual acts with each other and encouraged one of his victims to have sex with a girl he targeted. Last month, Owens admitted to a series of charges, including rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency. During the sentencing, Judge Davies revealed that Owens had previously served a 15-month sentence in March 2002 for indecent assault on a six-year-old girl. It was also disclosed that while Owens was in prison, one of his victims confided in an adult about her abuse, which was reported to social services; however, no action was taken at that time.

Following his release from prison, Owens moved to Merthyr Tydfil, where he engaged in further disturbing behavior by exposing himself to mothers taking their children to school. The judge emphasized that Owens’ attitude towards the abuse was one of viewing it “as some form of entertainment,” and he noted the profound and lasting trauma inflicted upon his victims. Despite the severity of his crimes, Owens’ admission to the charges spared the victims the ordeal of testifying in court.

Pre-sentence reports indicated that Owens posed a high risk of reoffending and remained a significant danger to children. Judge Davies stated, “You are, and you will remain, a serious danger to children for a period so long that it would be impossible for anyone today, in my position, to estimate.”

Following the case, Tony Clements, chair of the Neath Port Talbot safeguarding children board, emphasized the importance of protecting children and noted that multiple agencies, including social services, had been involved in managing the case. He stated that a serious case review would be conducted to examine the circumstances thoroughly, and the findings would be made public once completed. Clements underscored that it was inappropriate to discuss or analyze the case further until the review was finalized.