MARK PINN FROM PLYMOUTH SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC SEX ATTACKS NEAR ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL
In a case that has spanned over three decades, Mark Pinn, a 53-year-old man from Plymouth, was sentenced to a substantial prison term of 22 years after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offenses.The crimes, which include nine counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and two sexual assaults by penetration, were committed in the vicinity of St Mary’s Cathedral in Stonehouse, Plymouth, with the earliest attack dating back to May 1987.
According to court proceedings, Pinn’s first known assault occurred during the night of May 16 into May 17, 1987.
The victim, a 19-year-old woman, was walking home alone after an argument with her boyfriend.
She had been at The Malthouse in Union Street earlier that evening.
As she made her way through the shadows near the cathedral, she was approached by Pinn, who was at least 6 feet 3 inches tall.
He forcibly grabbed her from behind, pressing what she believed to be a knife against her neck, and then dragged her towards the cathedral where he committed the assault.
The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous for her safety, recounted her ordeal in court, describing how Pinn warned her that if she reported the attack, he would find her and kill her.
Despite the threat, she summoned the courage to alert the police, leading to the collection of crucial DNA evidence.
This evidence was later matched to Pinn, who was arrested last year following new allegations.
During the trial, the jury heard that semen found at the scene was a billion times more likely to originate from Pinn or a close male relative than anyone else, solidifying his connection to the crime.
Remarkably, Pinn denied being near the scene of the 1987 attack, claiming he was at the hospital bedside of his wife and newborn baby at the time.
He also alleged that the second victim, who came forward in 2019, had attempted to blackmail him after he rejected her advances.
However, the jury dismissed his claims after a brief deliberation of approximately three hours.
The second victim, now in her early 50s and married with a family, bravely testified about her experience.
She described feeling suicidal and her life falling apart over the years following the assault.
She recounted how Pinn had attacked her while she was walking home alone after a dispute with her boyfriend.
She was at the time walking away from a night out at The Malthouse, Union Street, when she noticed Pinn, who was at least 6 feet tall, lurking nearby.
Pinn then grabbed her from behind, pressing what she claimed was a knife to her neck, before dragging her towards the cathedral and raping her.
During her testimony, she revealed that Pinn threatened to kill her if she reported the attack.
Despite this, she reported the incident to the police, which led to the collection of DNA evidence that ultimately linked Pinn to both assaults.
The court heard that Pinn’s DNA was found on a pool of semen at the scene, and it was matched to a sample taken from him when he was arrested last year.
Pinn was remanded in custody in December following the new allegations.
Judge James Townsend described Pinn’s crimes as “horrific” and emphasized his obsession with non-consensual sex, citing material found on Pinn’s devices as evidence of this disturbing fixation.
The judge also declared Pinn a dangerous offender, ruling that he should not be considered for parole until he has served at least two-thirds of his sentence, which equates to a minimum of 14 years and eight months.
This decision means Pinn will remain in prison well beyond the halfway point of his sentence.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Townsend acknowledged that Pinn was only “unmasked” due to the bravery of the second victim, who came forward in June 2019.
He praised her courage, stating that her decision to speak out was the beginning of justice not only for herself but also for the woman attacked in 1987.
The judge highlighted the importance of her actions in bringing Pinn to justice after so many years.
Throughout the trial, Pinn maintained his innocence, claiming he was elsewhere at the time of the 1987 attack and suggesting that the second victim had attempted to blackmail him.
His defense also pointed to his previous good character and the harm and threats he had received since his arrest last December.
Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty on all counts after a relatively short deliberation.
Pinn, who has been working as a make-up salesman and has lived in Leigham, will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
His case underscores the importance of persistence and bravery in bringing long-unsolved crimes to justice, and it serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of sexual violence.
