ACKLAM PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT BREACHING STRICT LICENCE CONDITIONS

A paedophile has been brought back to court after breaching his strict licence conditions. Mark Bullen, aged 38, previously received a suspended prison sentence after being caught with nearly 3,500 graphic videos and images depicting children aged from one to ten being sexually abused. He had searched for such illegal material online and exchanged messages with another individual expressing interest in "young sex vids." He also asked for "samples" and shared phone numbers with the other man. Bullen was found with a substantial collection of abusive material. Despite the court imposing a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a suspended sentence, he breached these conditions within months. During a routine visit conducted by his offender manager on April 23, Bullen had deleted a file from an app, violating the order's terms that prohibit deleting files or browsing history. Police forensic analysis confirmed the deletion of a downloaded file. Additionally, Bullen used an app that connects users via video, which, when tested by police, instantly connected to a nude woman performing a sexual act. Bullen, of Virginia Gardens in Acklam, Middlesbrough, admitted breaching his order and suspended sentence. He was remanded in custody after arrest eleven weeks prior. The court noted that Bullen has a previous conviction for indecent assault on a child. In 2018, he threatened to taser his partner after she discovered he had been sending photos of himself to another woman. Bullen stated he was assaulted by his partner after she went through his phone but admitted to possessing a taser. The judge sentenced him to an additional 21 weeks in prison. Once his remand period is deducted, he is expected to be released soon and was ordered to pay £150 in court costs from his benefits. The court highlighted his autism, ADHD, personality disorder, fetal alcohol disorder, and severe visual impairment as part of his mitigating circumstances.