MARK HUBBUCKS FROM BODMIN AND ST AUSTELL SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE IN CORNWALL

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Bodmin and St Austell, Mark Hubbucks, aged 63, has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of four young girls over a period spanning more than twenty years. The disturbing details of his offenses, which took place across Cornwall and beyond, have left a lasting scar on the victims and their families.

Hubbucks, who resides on Victoria Road in St Austell and was previously living in Bodmin, appeared before Truro Crown Court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to a range of serious charges. These included attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, four counts of gross indecency with a child, four counts of rape, inciting a child to watch sexual images, and making indecent images of children. The court heard that his crimes were not only brutal but also meticulously planned, with threats of violence and death used to silence his victims.

The prosecuting barrister, Jason Beal, provided a harrowing account of the abuse, much of which was too graphic to be fully reported. He detailed how Hubbucks forced the first victim to perform acts of masturbation, touched her sexually, performed oral sex on her, and even attempted to rape her. The second victim, who was only nine or ten years old at the time, was coerced into touching Hubbucks’s genitals and was made to watch a pornographic film, with Hubbucks threatening to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse.

The third victim, described as particularly vulnerable, was violently raped by Hubbucks in a hotel room. He also offered her money—specifically five pounds—to perform a sexual act. The fourth victim was subjected to inappropriate touching over and under her clothing and was forced to watch a pornographic video. Tragically, one of the victims has since died, with an inquest recording an open verdict, suggesting she may have taken her own life.

During the investigation, police seized a computer tower from Hubbucks’s residence, which contained numerous indecent images depicting children aged between five and thirteen being sexually abused. Hubbucks was interviewed multiple times, and authorities found evidence of his extensive involvement in child exploitation.

Victims’ impact statements were read aloud in court, revealing the profound and lasting damage caused by Hubbucks’s actions. One victim described herself as a gentle, timid, and depressed girl, noting that Hubbucks preyed on her vulnerability and manipulated her into performing acts she did not understand. She expressed that Hubbucks’s influence remains in her mind daily, contributing to feelings of guilt, shame, and resentment, which have led her to attempt suicide in the past.

Another victim recounted how Hubbucks robbed her of her innocence, describing her abuse as “truly the most horrendous experience.” She shared that she has struggled with depression and anxiety ever since. The third victim stated that she lost her childhood and now finds it difficult to trust men, highlighting the long-term emotional scars inflicted by Hubbucks’s crimes.

Judge Linford addressed the court, condemning Hubbucks’s actions as utterly destructive, emphasizing that his behavior had completely shattered lives and stolen childhoods. The judge also pointed out the terror instilled by Hubbucks’s threats to harm family members, which left the victims in constant fear. Concluding his remarks, Judge Linford sentenced Hubbucks to 22.5 years in prison, with an additional two years on license upon release. Furthermore, Hubbucks is required to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.