MARK JACKSON FROM DARLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN TEESSIDE AND DURHAM

In May 2016, Mark Jackson, a resident of Darlington, faced a series of serious criminal charges related to child exploitation and indecent images, culminating in a lengthy prison sentence. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned several years, highlighting Jackson's ongoing predatory conduct.

Jackson was brought before Teesside Crown Court, where he was visibly emotional as he was sentenced to a year in prison. The judge, Stephen Ashurst, addressed Jackson directly, emphasizing the severity of his unhealthy interest in children. During the hearing, it was disclosed that Jackson had been caught four times possessing indecent photographs of minors, a pattern that underscored his persistent offending.

According to court records, Jackson, aged 31 and from Darlington, engaged in online chats under false pretenses, posing as a mother to a paedophile. In these conversations, he offered to supply indecent images purportedly involving his fictional son. The court also heard that Jackson conducted internet searches related to incest and participated in numerous disturbing Skype conversations, further illustrating his troubling online activity.

Jackson's defense lawyer, Scott Smith, argued that some of Jackson's online exchanges were merely fantasies and that he had not committed any physical contact offenses. However, the prosecution pointed out that Jackson's criminal history was aggravated by his repeated offenses. The court noted that Jackson had previously been cautioned in 2008 after being found with indecent images, and the following year, he faced prosecution for similar conduct. In 2010, Jackson was jailed for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, which he watched via webcam.

Authorities from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Service (CEOP) monitored Jackson's internet activity, leading to a search of his home. Although only eight sexual abuse images were recovered from his devices, investigators found concerning chat logs. In one such conversation, Jackson, pretending to be a mother with a young son, asked another individual if they could exchange abusive pictures and videos.

Jackson, who resides on Eastmount Road in Darlington, admitted to possessing indecent images of children during an earlier court hearing. As part of his sentence, he will be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that restricts his internet activity.

Despite being placed on a treatment program during a 31-month sentence for incitement and while serving a suspended sentence for previous offenses, Jackson showed little progress. Judge Ashurst expressed concern over his lack of remorse and failure to learn from past mistakes, stating, “Very little progress has been made in helping you to contain your unhealthy interest in children.” The judge further condemned Jackson's online behavior, noting his attempts to engage with like-minded individuals on Skype, where he pretended to be a woman and claimed to be a mother willing to involve children in webcam activities for others’ gratification.

In a related case from April 2010, Jackson, then 25, was sentenced to 31 months in prison for exchanging explicit texts and images with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors described him as a predator who exploited initial contact made at a church service. Jackson had previously received a police caution for possessing indecent images and was on a suspended sentence when he reinitiated contact with the girl, just three weeks after his earlier conviction.

During the court proceedings at Durham Crown Court, the prosecution detailed how Jackson introduced sexual elements into their communications, persuading the girl to send intimate images and perform sexual acts over the phone. Jackson admitted to inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photographs of a child. His defense lawyer, Scott Smith, acknowledged that these offenses occurred before Jackson began a sex offenders’ treatment program.

Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Jackson to 22 months in prison, with an additional nine months suspended. The judge highlighted Jackson’s obsessive sexual preoccupation with teenage girls and criticized his failure to recognize the harm caused by his actions. Jackson was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and will be subject to ongoing restrictions on his internet use, emphasizing the court’s concern over his continued risk to the community.