MARK BURT FROM YEOVIL FACES SERIOUS SEX OFFENCE CHARGES IN SOMERSET COURT

On January 17th, 2014, Mark Burt, a resident of Yeovil, was formally charged with additional sexual offences involving another young girl. Despite the gravity of the charges, Burt was sentenced to a mere one-year imprisonment. However, he was released on the very same day, having already served 26 weeks on remand awaiting trial.

As part of his sentencing conditions, Burt was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years. Additionally, he was mandated to complete three years of community service, a sentence that reflects the judicial system’s attempt to balance punishment with rehabilitation.

Furthermore, Burt was explicitly prohibited from having unsupervised access to any child under the age of 16. This restriction aims to prevent any potential risk to minors and to ensure public safety.

Back in November 2013, Burt’s criminal activities came to light when he was arrested in Yeovil after admitting to sexually abusing a six-year-old girl. The incident led to his remand in custody as he appeared before Somerset Magistrates Court, sitting in Yeovil. Burt, aged 48 and residing on Hawks Rise, faced serious charges after police investigations.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of non-penetrative sexual touching of the young girl, which occurred between October 1 and October 31 of that year. Prosecutor Judy Morris detailed that Burt admitted to the three assaults, which involved inappropriate touching in private areas of the child's body. The offences were said to have taken place over a span of several weeks, highlighting a pattern of abuse.

During the court proceedings, Burt’s defense solicitor, Chris Baddoo, did not make any representations, acknowledging the severity of the offences. The magistrates, recognizing the seriousness of the case, declined jurisdiction to sentence Burt and instead ordered his transfer to Taunton Crown Court for sentencing scheduled on December 13. A pre-sentence report was also requested from the probation service to assist in determining an appropriate punishment.

Until his next court appearance, Burt remained in custody, with no application for bail made by his legal representatives. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to address and penalize sexual offences against minors, especially in communities like Yeovil where such incidents have shocked the local population.