MARCUS MCPHERSON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN CORNWALL: SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND ONLINE ABUSE
Marcus McPherson, a young man aged just 21, has been at the center of a disturbing series of sexual offenses that took place in Cornwall.His actions involved targeting vulnerable young girls through online platforms, manipulating them into meeting in person, and then subjecting them to violent sexual assaults.
The gravity of his crimes has shocked the local community and prompted a serious legal response.
McPherson, who resides on Dunveth Road in Wadebridge, appeared before Truro Crown Court to face sentencing after admitting to multiple serious charges.
These included sexual assault, assault by penetration, the distribution of an indecent image of a child, three counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and two breaches of a sexual risk order.
His criminal behavior spanned over several years and involved two victims, both of whom were minors at the time of the offenses.
The first victim, a girl who met McPherson in 2015 when she was only 14 years old and he was 17, described the persistent and demanding nature of his online messages.
According to Mr.
Lee, the court heard how McPherson repeatedly sent her sexual messages and photos, including explicit images of himself.
Over time, he convinced her to meet him in person.
In November 2015, she agreed to meet a friend at a bus stop in Lanivet, and McPherson was allowed to join them.
However, once they were alone, McPherson's behavior turned aggressive and predatory.
He pushed the girl back, attempted to unbutton her trousers and unzip her clothing, and held her head with one hand while trying to undress her with the other.
During this assault, he reportedly told her that such actions were what happened to people who said no, revealing a disturbing attitude towards consent and boundaries.
The second victim, also a young girl of similar age, was subjected to a similar pattern of online grooming and manipulation.
In 2017, after exchanging numerous sexual messages with McPherson, she agreed to meet him in Par.
He traveled there by train, and the two went to a skate park before seeking shelter in the woods to escape the rain.
It was during this encounter that McPherson's predatory behavior escalated.
He restrained her by putting her arms around her so she could not move and then proceeded to touch her breasts inside her top.
He further violated her by placing his hand inside her underwear, engaging in sexual acts that left her in pain.
Despite her protests and attempts to push him away, McPherson persisted, telling her, “let me do it, it’ll feel really nice.” Following this assault, the girl was further traumatized when McPherson continued to message her and used blackmail to coerce her into sending a naked photograph.
He threatened to tell everyone about what had happened if she refused.
She complied and sent the image, but McPherson then distributed it to others, leading to her experiencing comments and abuse from peers, compounding her emotional distress.
During the course of the investigation, authorities placed McPherson under a sexual risk order designed to restrict his online activity.
However, he repeatedly breached this order by accessing social media apps on his phone.
One such breach involved contact with a girl he knew from school, who was aware of his criminal situation.
McPherson contacted her, which led her to inform the police about his actions.
The victims of McPherson’s physical abuse suffered both physically and emotionally.
Their experiences resulted in ongoing difficulties with their education and mental health, including issues related to self-harm.
The court recognized the profound impact of his actions on their lives.
Judge Carr sentenced McPherson to an extended prison term of 14 years, comprising nine years of actual custody and a further five years on license.
The sentence also includes a stipulation that he will only be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of the custodial period, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision upon release.
