MARK PULLIN BRISTOL AND WORTHING PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR FACEBOOK GROOMING AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN HUDDERSFIELD

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Bristol, Worthing, and Huddersfield, Mark Pullin, a 45-year-old man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his heinous crimes involving a vulnerable teenage girl. The incident, which took place in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, highlights the dangers posed by predatory individuals who exploit online platforms to target minors.

Pullin, whose previous convictions include a five-year risk of sexual harm order issued in Worthing after he engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl he met through an internet chat-room, was found guilty of grooming and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Huddersfield. The court was told that Pullin used the alias 'Mark Thomas' when initially contacting the victim at the start of 2011. His pattern of predatory behavior extended beyond this incident, as he had previously attempted to have sex with another 15-year-old girl in a public toilet in Eastbourne, and had served a 27-month sentence in 2009 for breaching a sexual harm order.

According to court proceedings, in April of the previous year, Pullin traveled from his home in Bristol to Huddersfield, where he picked up the teenage girl and her friend. The group then drove to a remote, secluded area. During this trip, Pullin’s intentions turned sinister when he locked the car doors after the girl’s friend exited to use her mobile phone. He then threatened to drive away with her unless she performed a sexual act. The court heard that during the assault, Pullin also touched the girl’s breast beneath her clothing. After the assault, he released her but continued to threaten her, warning that she would get into trouble if she reported the incident to the police.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, confided in a teacher, which prompted a police investigation. During the inquiry, the girl managed to obtain a mobile phone number from Pullin, which proved instrumental in locating and arresting him at his residence in Bristol. During the court hearing, Pullin admitted to multiple charges, including sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, meeting a child after grooming, and breaching the risk of sexual harm order.

In a letter to the court, Pullin expressed a willingness to undergo chemical castration, but Judge Jonathan Durham Hall, QC, clarified that the court lacked the authority to order such treatment. The judge described Pullin as a “predatory paedophile” who posed a significant and ongoing threat to children. He emphasized that the case was marked by numerous aggravating factors, including grooming, threats, a form of abduction, and the exploitation of a vulnerable minor for sexual purposes.

Addressing Pullin directly, the judge condemned his actions, stating, “You told her she couldn’t go to the police because you had given her money and she’d be viewed as a prostitute, and there you left her, having used her ignominiously.”

The court sentenced Pullin to a total of 15 years in prison, with an additional extended license period of eight years upon release. Furthermore, he was banned from ever working with children, placed under an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, and ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for life. The sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to society, especially to young and vulnerable individuals.