Penryn Man Sentenced for Child Sexual Exploitation and Indecent Images

A man named Mark Jeffery, aged 42, from South View, Penryn, has been involved in serious online child exploitation offenses. He engaged in sending sexual messages to what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, and his actions included distributing indecent images of children. Specifically, Jeffery contacted an undercover police officer on the messaging app Kik, posing as a 13-year-old girl, with whom he exchanged inappropriate messages. He referred to her as "gorgeous" and expressed a desire to meet up, suggesting he would pick her up for a "memorable day." Jeffery also sent two explicit pictures of himself, including one of his erect penis. When police attended his home in September 2023, they discovered his phone, which contained indecent images ranging in severity from children aged 2 to 16, including prohibited and extreme pornography. He also used messaging apps such as Kik and Snapchat to connect with others and disseminate such material. Jeffery pleaded guilty to multiple charges including distributing indecent images, making indecent photographs of a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and possessing extreme pornography. At sentencing in Truro Crown Court, the judge noted the devastation such images cause to young lives. Jeffery was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, pay a £2,000 fine, court costs of £1,000, and a victim surcharge of £187. The judge emphasized that Jeffery was very lucky not to be sent straight to prison and urged him to take this as a one-time opportunity to turn his life around.