BRIDGWATER PAEDOPHILE MARK LESTER SENTENCED FOR OVER 50 SEX OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Bridgwater, Somerset, a man named Mark Lester, aged 60, has been found guilty of committing more than 50 serious sexual offences against children. The lengthy and disturbing trial revealed the extent of Lester's criminal activities, which spanned several years and involved multiple victims.

Mark Lester, who resides on Riverside Close in Bridgwater, was convicted on a total of 51 counts, including charges of rape and sexual assault. The majority of these offences involved minors, highlighting the grave nature of his crimes and the profound impact on the victims involved.

The case against Lester took a dramatic turn when he was arrested in January of 2016 following a violent incident at a residence in Bridgwater. During this incident, Lester broke into a house, wielding a knife and threatening the two occupants. He then proceeded to tie them up and sexually assaulted one of the individuals present. This particular incident led to Lester being convicted of two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of sexual assault related to the assault at the house.

Further investigations uncovered a disturbing pattern of non-recent sexual offences committed by Lester against children. These investigations revealed that Lester had been involved in multiple acts of sexual violence over the years, with charges including five counts of rape of a child, as well as 42 counts of gross indecency, sexual assault, incitement to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, and the making or taking of indecent images of children. These offences involved five different victims and are considered non-recent, meaning they occurred in the past but were only brought to light during the investigation.

The court proceedings highlighted the severity and breadth of Lester’s criminal conduct, which has left a lasting scar on the victims and the community of Bridgwater. The conviction underscores the importance of vigilance and justice in cases involving child abuse, and the community now awaits the sentencing, which will determine the length of Lester’s imprisonment for his heinous crimes.