MARK JARRETT FROM WIGAN SENTENCED TO INDEFINITE IMPRISONMENT FOR KNIFE-POINT RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS

In a case that has shocked the community of Wigan, Mark Jarrett, a 43-year-old man from Frog Lane, Gidlow, has been sentenced to an indefinite period behind bars after being convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a teenage boy. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, including threats with a weapon and multiple assaults.

Jarrett was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, committed on the same young victim over a span of several months. The jury acquitted him of two other sexual assault charges. The incidents came to light after the victim, a 16-year-old boy, confided in his girlfriend, prompting police involvement.

During the trial, it was disclosed that Jarrett had initially befriended the boy, who began visiting his flat. In April of the previous year, Jarrett threatened the boy with a knife, forced him to strip, and then sexually assaulted and raped him. Following the assault, Jarrett apologized and begged the boy not to tell anyone, assuring him it would never happen again. Despite these promises, the abuse continued.

In June, Jarrett again assaulted the boy, this time by offering him alcohol and molesting him over his clothing. When the boy objected, Jarrett threatened him with a knife, causing the victim to flee and seek help from his girlfriend. The police were subsequently alerted, leading to Jarrett’s arrest and trial.

One of the most alarming moments in the courtroom occurred when Jarrett, during his conviction, produced a craft blade and threatened to kill himself. He also told the jury that they had blood on their hands. It took a tense 40-minute negotiation with court police staff to disarm him. The judge, Judge Stephen Everett, described Jarrett as a serious danger to the public and ordered that he serve a minimum of five years before being eligible to apply for parole. However, the judge also warned that Jarrett might never be released, given the severity of his actions.

In addition to his prison sentence, Jarrett was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The court heard that he has no prior convictions but suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, which his defense argued contributed to his behavior. During sentencing, Judge Everett emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and the need for Jarrett to change his thought processes and behavior towards others.

Throughout the proceedings, Jarrett displayed visible signs of defiance, grimacing, muttering, and staring through the security glass at relatives in the gallery. When sentenced, he shouted to his father and brother, “You know the truth, clear my name, make sure everybody knows the truth.” As he was led away to the cells, he continued to shout, reflecting the ongoing turmoil and his refusal to accept the court’s judgment.