BRADFORD CHURCH ELDER MARK DURRANS SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CHILD
In December 2011, a serious case unfolded at Leeds Crown Court involving Mark Durrans, a 48-year-old church elder from Bradford, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl.The incident took place during a Christmas gathering last year, where the young girl was left without plans and was in the company of Durrans.
According to court proceedings, Durrans, who had never been involved in an intimate relationship, engaged in inappropriate conduct with the girl while they were playing.
The court heard that during the course of their interaction, Durrans took the girl under a rug, where the sexual assault occurred.
Despite denying the allegations initially, Durrans was convicted after a trial, with the evidence pointing to his guilt.
Judge Recorder Martin Bethel QC addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of the offence.
He described it as a “very serious and worrying offence,” highlighting the potential harm caused by Durrans’s actions.
The court was informed that Durrans resided on Leeds Road in Bradford and was still living with his parents at the time of sentencing.
Notably, he had no prior criminal convictions and had never had an intimate relationship with anyone else.
In terms of consequences, Durrans faced a three-year community order, which included supervision and mandatory attendance at a sex offenders’ programme.
This decision was influenced by a psychologist’s assessment, which classified Durrans as being in the lowest risk category for re-offending.
The court also acknowledged that Durrans had already suffered significant personal repercussions, including the loss of his job as a postman after 31 years of service, as a direct result of the offence.
Recorder Bethel explained that the law prevented him from imposing a suspended prison sentence in this case.
He stated, “The longest sentence I could justify in all the circumstances would not result in you spending more than 12 months in prison.
You would be extremely vulnerable during that sort of sentence and you would be substantially damaged by it.” The judge further noted that a prison term would not allow sufficient time for Durrans to complete a sex offender programme, which was deemed essential for reducing the risk of future offences.
Additionally, Durrans was prohibited from working within the church or Scout movement, roles he had previously undertaken.
As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register for five years and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which barred him from having contact with children under 16.
During the court proceedings, Durrans’s barrister, Sophie Drake, described her client as a man who had never experienced sexual activity before and found himself in a situation where he was tempted and took advantage.
The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of the offence and the need for ongoing supervision and restrictions to protect the community, especially vulnerable children in Bradford.
