MARK RAWLINSON FROM BRIDLINGTON AND HULL JAILED FOR ABUSE IN EAST YORKSHIRE AND LEICESTERSHIRE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Bridlington, Hull, and beyond, a man named Mark Rawlinson has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction on over 20 serious criminal charges. The case unraveled after a young woman, now an adult, finally found the courage to disclose the horrific abuse she endured as a toddler, revealing a disturbing pattern of exploitation and assault that spanned several years.

According to court proceedings, Rawlinson, aged 44, subjected the young girl to a series of traumatic experiences, including forcing her to watch videos depicting child abuse. The victim’s mother recounted that Rawlinson would sit her on his knee and make her watch these disturbing videos before he proceeded to assault her. The abuse was so severe and prolonged that it left a lasting scar on the young girl’s psyche.

The victim, who grew up in Hull, only managed to reveal her ordeal when she reached secondary school age. It was then that she confided in her mother, sparking a police investigation that eventually led to Rawlinson’s arrest and trial. Her mother expressed her outrage and heartbreak, stating, “It made me feel so angry and sick. It was beyond me how anyone could do that to a child, let alone my own. He never showed an ounce of remorse in court, which is just a whole different level. He just sat there and never made a squeak. He just kept shaking his head throughout the whole thing. Luckily, the jury listened to everything that was said and found him guilty of what he did.”

Describing the profound impact of the abuse on her daughter, the mother added, “My daughter won’t get into taxis with men and she is very wary around them. Even when she goes to the doctors, she cannot see a male doctor. It’s caused her great anxiety, stress, shame, and embarrassment. She is so frightened that people will find out it is her, but at the same time, she knows that people need to know who this monster is and what he has done. He absolutely destroyed her as a young child.”

Despite the trauma, the victim has demonstrated remarkable resilience. She completed her A levels and is currently attending university. Her mother expressed immense pride, saying, “She is one of my greatest achievements in life. She is doing with her life what I was never able to, and I am so proud of her. I did everything in my power to push this court case through, and as a family, we were absolutely over the moon when he got sentenced. This man is a danger to children, and I never thought I would see him brought to justice for what he did.”

Rawlinson, originally from Bridlington, previously worked at a butcher’s shop in east Hull before establishing his own business in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, in 2013. His trial took place at Leicester Crown Court, where he was found guilty and subsequently sentenced to prison.

In a plea for other victims to come forward, the victim’s mother urged, “They need to come forward and speak about it. I know it’s scary and I know it’s frightening because I’ve seen my daughter go through it. I know you have to lay out what happened on the table, and that is hard, but the relief you get from it when it is over is worth it. When he is released, I know this man will come back to Hull. He will be an old man in his 60s, but he won’t be cured in jail—you can’t cure people like that. He will come out, and I believe there will be more victims out there who need to speak out.”