BOSTON MAN JAILED FOR ONLINE CHILD PREDATION

A Boston man will serve nearly four years in prison after admitting to online child predation by posing as a teenage boy to deceive victims. Mark Gibbins, aged 54, pleaded guilty to charges including inciting a child under 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activities, engaging in sexual communication with a minor, and creating or distributing indecent images of children. He concealed his true identity online, pretending to be a teenage male to manipulate his victims into doing as he wished, as reported by Grimsby Live. The court was informed that Gibbins preyed on his victims' vulnerabilities on multiple occasions, with offences spanning five police jurisdictions. He was sentenced today at Grimsby Crown Court to three years and ten months in prison. Police Constable Terina Dennett, leading the investigation for Humberside Police, expressed satisfaction with the sentence, highlighting the bravery of the victims and emphasizing the ongoing commitment to prosecuting such crimes. She underscored that victims should never blame themselves and encouraged children who feel manipulated to seek help. The police also collaborated with social services and family support teams to ensure victims and their families received necessary support, reaffirming the department's stance on taking strong action against offenders.