GRAHAM MARSHALL FROM BURNLEY AND FOREST GATE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES
| Red Rose Database
Burnley Forest Gate Rapist
In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat posed by convicted sex offenders, Graham Marshall, a 36-year-old man with a troubling history, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his involvement in a series of heinous online activities aimed at facilitating child sexual abuse. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior, including attempts to coerce a man into raping his own 11-year-old daughter, as well as the distribution of indecent images of children.
Marshall’s criminal record is extensive, including a 2003 conviction for indecent assault on a child under 14, and he has long been associated with the possession and creation of child abuse images. His latest actions came to light after he engaged in a series of conversations with an undercover police officer, whom he believed was a fellow sex offender. In reality, the officer was operating undercover, posing as a parent of a girl named Jess, to gather evidence against Marshall.
According to court reports, the exchanges began on June 24 of the previous year, when Marshall initiated contact via the instant messaging platform Kik. During their conversations, he expressed a disturbing sexual interest in Jess, sending a photograph of a naked girl he estimated to be around ten years old. He repeatedly voiced his desire to have sexual relations with her and went as far as asking the officer if he had ever engaged in sexual acts with his own daughter, instructing him to commit rape.
Prosecutor Paul Dockery detailed how Marshall’s conversations escalated, with him demanding more explicit details about the officer’s supposed activities with Jess. He also requested a photograph of Jess, which the officer provided, depicting a girl in a school dress. Marshall’s comments revealed his obsession, as he stated he wanted her and needed to figure out how to get to Norfolk, where the officer claimed Jess was located. During these discussions, Marshall also asked the officer to sexually assault Jess on his behalf, indicating a disturbing willingness to facilitate or even participate in child abuse.
Throughout July, Marshall’s messages grew increasingly explicit and obsessive. He expressed excitement about the prospect of meeting Jess, providing detailed instructions on how he wanted the supposed assault to occur. He discussed travel plans from Burnley to Norfolk, contingent on arrangements for his dog’s care, and continued to insist on his desire to sexually abuse the girl. On July 22, he even requested to have Jess on a specific date, claiming he had a dog sitter available, and inquired about her clothing preferences for the occasion.
Marshall’s arrest took place on August 14 at his residence on Leyland Road in Burnley. During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, answering no comment to all questions. Investigations revealed that he had used multiple screen names, including Lewisham35, Love Life, and Bodycount, despite being under a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited such online activity.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to several charges, including encouraging or assisting in the commission of a sexual offence, distributing indecent images of children, breaching a sexual offences prevention order, and failing to comply with notification requirements. The court was told that Marshall holds the controversial belief that the age of consent should be lowered to 14, and he is considered a dangerous paedophile due to his deeply distorted sexual interests. It was also noted that he is wary of being alone in public, often taking a book or newspaper with him as a distraction to prevent himself from acting on impulses.
Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced Marshall to four and a half years in prison, with an extended license period of four years. The judge condemned his actions, stating, “You encouraged what you believed to be a father to rape his own 11-year-old daughter. You encouraged someone to commit the most serious forms of sexual abuse. All of it would have resulted in the most serious breach of trust, enabling serious emotional and psychological damage. You persisted in your encouragement over the course of three weeks for your own sexual gratification.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Marshall was ordered to be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and to sign the sex offender’s register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and restrictions to prevent further harm.
Marshall’s criminal activities are not isolated. In December 2011, he was again incarcerated after breaching a court order just 30 hours after his release from prison. The breach involved attempting to access a website used by children under 16, violating the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He was arrested by Tower Hamlets Police in London, where officers had been monitoring his online activity. Marshall, then 28 and residing on Romford Road in Forest Gate, had a prior conviction for sexual assault on children.
He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison for this breach. Detective Inspector Des McHugh explained that all London boroughs have dedicated units responsible for managing registered sex offenders, emphasizing the proactive efforts of police teams to monitor and control individuals like Marshall, who pose a significant risk to the community. The ongoing management aims to prevent further offenses and protect vulnerable populations from harm.
Marshall’s criminal record is extensive, including a 2003 conviction for indecent assault on a child under 14, and he has long been associated with the possession and creation of child abuse images. His latest actions came to light after he engaged in a series of conversations with an undercover police officer, whom he believed was a fellow sex offender. In reality, the officer was operating undercover, posing as a parent of a girl named Jess, to gather evidence against Marshall.
According to court reports, the exchanges began on June 24 of the previous year, when Marshall initiated contact via the instant messaging platform Kik. During their conversations, he expressed a disturbing sexual interest in Jess, sending a photograph of a naked girl he estimated to be around ten years old. He repeatedly voiced his desire to have sexual relations with her and went as far as asking the officer if he had ever engaged in sexual acts with his own daughter, instructing him to commit rape.
Prosecutor Paul Dockery detailed how Marshall’s conversations escalated, with him demanding more explicit details about the officer’s supposed activities with Jess. He also requested a photograph of Jess, which the officer provided, depicting a girl in a school dress. Marshall’s comments revealed his obsession, as he stated he wanted her and needed to figure out how to get to Norfolk, where the officer claimed Jess was located. During these discussions, Marshall also asked the officer to sexually assault Jess on his behalf, indicating a disturbing willingness to facilitate or even participate in child abuse.
Throughout July, Marshall’s messages grew increasingly explicit and obsessive. He expressed excitement about the prospect of meeting Jess, providing detailed instructions on how he wanted the supposed assault to occur. He discussed travel plans from Burnley to Norfolk, contingent on arrangements for his dog’s care, and continued to insist on his desire to sexually abuse the girl. On July 22, he even requested to have Jess on a specific date, claiming he had a dog sitter available, and inquired about her clothing preferences for the occasion.
Marshall’s arrest took place on August 14 at his residence on Leyland Road in Burnley. During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, answering no comment to all questions. Investigations revealed that he had used multiple screen names, including Lewisham35, Love Life, and Bodycount, despite being under a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited such online activity.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to several charges, including encouraging or assisting in the commission of a sexual offence, distributing indecent images of children, breaching a sexual offences prevention order, and failing to comply with notification requirements. The court was told that Marshall holds the controversial belief that the age of consent should be lowered to 14, and he is considered a dangerous paedophile due to his deeply distorted sexual interests. It was also noted that he is wary of being alone in public, often taking a book or newspaper with him as a distraction to prevent himself from acting on impulses.
Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced Marshall to four and a half years in prison, with an extended license period of four years. The judge condemned his actions, stating, “You encouraged what you believed to be a father to rape his own 11-year-old daughter. You encouraged someone to commit the most serious forms of sexual abuse. All of it would have resulted in the most serious breach of trust, enabling serious emotional and psychological damage. You persisted in your encouragement over the course of three weeks for your own sexual gratification.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Marshall was ordered to be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and to sign the sex offender’s register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and restrictions to prevent further harm.
Marshall’s criminal activities are not isolated. In December 2011, he was again incarcerated after breaching a court order just 30 hours after his release from prison. The breach involved attempting to access a website used by children under 16, violating the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He was arrested by Tower Hamlets Police in London, where officers had been monitoring his online activity. Marshall, then 28 and residing on Romford Road in Forest Gate, had a prior conviction for sexual assault on children.
He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison for this breach. Detective Inspector Des McHugh explained that all London boroughs have dedicated units responsible for managing registered sex offenders, emphasizing the proactive efforts of police teams to monitor and control individuals like Marshall, who pose a significant risk to the community. The ongoing management aims to prevent further offenses and protect vulnerable populations from harm.