MARK BLACKWELL FROM PORTSMOUTH JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN HAMPSHIRE WOODS
In a case that has shocked the local community, Mark Blackwell, a 69-year-old resident of Portsmouth, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for his involvement in filming young girls in provocative poses within the woods of Hampshire.The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Blackwell’s long-standing predatory behavior, which spanned nearly a decade during the 1990s.
According to the evidence presented at Portsmouth Crown Court, Blackwell targeted two young girls, approximately ten years old, and engaged in illicit activities that involved coercing them into suggestive positions amidst the natural surroundings of Hampshire’s woodland areas.
Prosecutors described how Blackwell’s actions included instructing the children to pose provocatively, sometimes with clothing on and other times without, capturing these moments on video.
The court was told that these videos were stored and retained by Blackwell for an extended period, highlighting the severity and persistence of his offending.
The case took a significant turn in January 2018 when police officers executed a search warrant at Blackwell’s residence.
During the investigation, authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including a new laptop, which contained further evidence of his misconduct.
Among the disturbing findings were search terms indicative of his perverted interests and an image depicting a naked child with a cartoon face, raising serious concerns about his ongoing predatory tendencies.
Blackwell’s criminal record is extensive.
He was already on the sex offenders’ register and subject to restrictions on his internet access following a 2011 conviction involving 24 charges related to indecent images.
Despite these measures, the police found that he continued to possess and view illicit material.
When officers returned to his home on January 31, approximately two weeks after his initial arrest, they discovered additional incriminating evidence, including a photograph of a naked child with a cartoon face and search terms that suggested ongoing interest in illegal content.
During the trial, Judge Timothy Mousley QC did not accept Blackwell’s attempt to downplay his actions.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, noting Blackwell’s prior convictions for similar offenses and the fact that he had kept the images for a prolonged period.
In his sentencing, Judge Mousley sentenced Blackwell to four years and four months in prison, underscoring the gravity of his offenses.
Prosecutor Nicola Hadley detailed the nature of the videos, stating, “They were asked to go out into the woods, videoed in provocative poses and sometimes with clothes on, sometimes with clothes off.” The court also heard that Blackwell’s collection included 76 indecent images, some featuring close-up shots of a girl’s genitalia and body, further illustrating the disturbing extent of his activities.
Blackwell, who uses a wheelchair and is reported to be in deteriorating health, was acquitted of charges alleging that he assaulted the two girls directly.
He maintained his innocence regarding the taking of the images, claiming he had no sexual intent.
However, his criminal history includes a 1972 conviction for assaulting a girl under 14, for which he was fined.
As part of his sentence, Blackwell is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order that restricts his internet use.
The court’s decision reflects the ongoing concern about his potential risk to the community, given his history and the nature of his offenses.
