MARK COLLINSON SENTENCED IN HULL FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES
A restaurant manager from North Cave, Hull, Mark Collinson, 41, was sentenced after admitting to attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity through online communications.The court heard that Collinson sent a series of disturbing images and videos to an undercover decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl via social media platforms Kick and Snapchat.
Collinson, using the false name "Fandango," initially joked with the decoy, admitting he was a "bad man" for talking to her and warning her to keep their conversations secret because it was "our secret," Hull Crown Court was told.
He also sent her a Valentine's Day message with a heart on February 14, 2022.
The prosecution, led by Annabelle Coakley, revealed that Collinson initiated contact with the decoy through Kick, where she was posing as a 12-year-old girl.
After she accepted his invitation to chat and he added her on Snapchat, their messages became increasingly explicit.
Collinson sent multiple images of himself, including a video of him performing a sex act, and made sexually charged comments.
The decoy told Collinson she was 12, to which he responded with surprise and made references to pornography, asking if she was still at school.
He further sent videos, including one of himself watching pornography, and asked her about her underwear.
On February 14, 2022, Collinson sent her a heart-shaped image and the message "Happy Valentine's Day." The conversations persisted until February 22, 2022, when he was arrested at his home on May 7 that year.
During police interviews, Collinson claimed he believed the decoy was an adult and insisted he had done nothing wrong.
He had no prior convictions.
Ben Hammersley, representing Collinson, explained that his client had shown remorse and was struggling to articulate what had happened, describing his actions as out of character and difficult for him to accept.
Mr.
Hammersley stated, "There has been no police involvement in the two-and-a-half years since then.
He is quite rightly disgusted by his behaviour.
There is no other word for it.
It's disgusting and repugnant." Collinson dedicated his life to work as a restaurant manager in Hull.
The judge, Recorder Paul Reid, highlighted Collinson’s unlawful sexual interests and the use of social media platforms popular among children.
He noted the period of about a month during which Collinson engaged in the conversations.
The court imposed a 14-month suspended prison sentence, alongside 100 hours of unpaid work, 30 days of rehabilitation, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and required him to register as a sex offender for a decade.
Collinson was also ordered to pay costs of £425.
