MARK PERCIVAL FROM WINSFORD SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND ONLINE PREDATION

In a case that has shocked the community of Winsford, Mark Percival, aged 58, has been sentenced after a lengthy investigation revealed his involvement in the possession and distribution of a vast collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light following a police raid on his family home on November 3, 2015, which uncovered disturbing evidence of his activities spanning over a decade.

During the raid, law enforcement officers seized multiple pieces of computer equipment, including hard drives and laptops, which subsequently revealed thousands of indecent images. The police investigation uncovered a total of 195 images classified as Category A, representing the most severe level of child exploitation material. Additionally, 158 images fell into Category B, with a staggering 2,475 images categorized as Category C, encompassing both still photographs and moving images. Among these, investigators also discovered an extreme pornographic image, further highlighting the severity of Percival’s actions.

Despite the large volume of images, it is believed that thousands more went unchecked during the initial investigation. Percival admitted to officers that he had downloaded these illicit images over an 11-year period, from April 2004 until November 2015. During a police interview, he claimed he did not have a sexual interest in children, but he acknowledged collecting and saving the images on various discs and folders. The images depicted young girls, some as young as six or seven, and others in their teenage years, illustrating the disturbing nature of his collection.

Further revelations emerged when Percival disclosed that he had created a fake Facebook profile approximately two years prior to his arrest. Under the guise of a teenage girl, he would engage in conversations with underage girls online. He would modify his online persona, including his age, depending on the individual he was communicating with. Prosecutors revealed that Percival also uploaded an indecent image to Facebook in April 2014 at the request of another user, demonstrating his active involvement in online child exploitation activities.

During the court proceedings at Chester Crown Court on October 3, 2016, the prosecution highlighted that the actual number of images in Percival’s possession exceeded 3,800, a figure that was not fully uncovered during initial investigations. The court was informed that Percival had admitted to downloading these images over an 11-year span, and he expressed no genuine sexual interest in children, claiming his actions were driven by curiosity and boredom.

His defense attorney, Daniel Brooks, argued that Percival’s behavior was rooted in feelings of isolation and stress, as he was living away from home in hotel rooms due to a demanding job. Brooks described Percival as a devoted father and a husband of 36 years, emphasizing his remorse and the steps he had taken to address his behavior. He stated that Percival had since overcome his addiction and had not engaged with any pornography since his arrest in November 2015. Additionally, Percival had begun working with The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.

Percival pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs, one count of possessing an indecent photograph, and charges related to distributing and possessing an extreme pornographic image. In delivering his sentence, Judge Nicholas Woodward acknowledged the shame Percival had brought upon himself and his family but also recognized his efforts to seek help. The judge sentenced Percival to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to participate in 35 days of rehabilitation programs to address his behavior and prevent future offenses.