MARK DAVIES FROM WAVERTREE JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD IN LIVERPOOL

In April 2014, a disturbing case unfolded in Liverpool involving a man from Wavertree, Mark Davies, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a minor. The court heard that Davies, aged 47, had paid a 14-year-old girl for sex on four separate occasions, with the payments totaling £120. The girl, who was reportedly coerced into selling sexual services on the streets of Liverpool, was allegedly influenced by an older woman who had introduced her to the sex trade.

During the sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Robert Warnock emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “Child prostitution in this city and in this country will not be tolerated under any circumstances whatsoever. It is foul and degrading for the child. It causes permanent damage to the child and is morally disgraceful. You purchased her for your own sexual gratification.”

The court was informed that Davies, residing on Insall Road in Wavertree, had met with the young girl on four occasions between June and November 2012. The prosecution, led by Michael Scholes, revealed that Davies was arrested in February following police investigations. During police interviews, Davies claimed that the girl had told him she was 17 years old. However, the prosecution did not believe this assertion, arguing that even if he believed her to be older, his reckless behavior in pursuing sexual contact with someone so young was unacceptable.

Mr. Scholes pointed out that Davies’s multiple contacts with the girl demonstrated a blatant disregard for her age and well-being, driven by his own desire for sexual gratification. The court was told that Davies’s actions were morally and legally wrong, and his reckless attitude compounded the seriousness of his offenses.

It was also revealed that Davies’s co-defendant, who was said to have “corrupted” the girl, was currently hospitalized and unable to be sentenced at that time. The co-defendant is scheduled to appear in court next month.

Davies, who has recently separated from his long-term partner and the mother of his children, pleaded guilty to four counts of paying for the sexual services of a child. His defense lawyer, Simeon Evans, described the case as an abuse of a young girl who was entirely blameless. Evans also explained that Davies had not actively sought out the girl on the streets of Toxteth but was contacted by her and her pimp via phone.

He further stated that Davies had been struggling with alcohol dependency and depression, which led him into a “twilight world” of paying for sex. This lifestyle eventually brought him into contact with areas known for prostitution and, ultimately, the young girl involved in this case.

Judge Warnock acknowledged that, had the case gone to trial, he would have sentenced Davies to five years in prison. However, considering Davies’s guilty plea and his willingness to cooperate by providing evidence against the woman who facilitated the girl’s involvement in the sex trade, the judge decided to reduce the sentence. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offenses but took into account the circumstances surrounding Davies’s actions and his remorse.