February 2014 Mickleover man and convicted groomer Mark Rayworth guilty after texting teenage girl A BATHROOM fitter who was previously convicted of sexual grooming has now been found guilty of communicating by text with a girl aged under 16. But Mark Rayworth was cleared of downloading indecent “pseudo-photographs” – computer-generated pictures – of children and having extreme pornography yesterday at Derby Crown Court. When the 45-year-old, of Inglewood Avenue, Mickleover, was convicted in March 2012 of sexually grooming a 15-year-old girl, an order was imposed on him which prohibited him from making contact with any girl under 16 using an electronic device. At yesterday’s hearing, he denied all the charges but the jury found him guilty of attempting to do an act prohibited by a sexual offences prevention order between March and July 2012. They acquitted him, however, of seven other counts, all relating to the images. Before the verdict was given, Recorder Peter Cooke told the public gallery he appreciated the “emotional” elements of the case but insisted on “silence and decorum” to allow the jury foreman to speak. He said any breach of this would be treated as “contempt of court”. There was then silence in the courtroom as the verdicts were read out. Afterwards, he told Rayworth he would adjourn the sentencing for around three weeks to await a pre-sentence report. He granted Rayworth bail for that period of time. The court had previously heard how Rayworth’s defence had been that his family had “set him up” because they were disgusted with him and felt they had been abandoned. It heard Rayworth’s 20-year marriage to his wife, Catherine, broke down following the criminal investigation into the sexual grooming offence. But both Catherine Rayworth and his daughter, Louise, told the court this was not the case. The court was also told how a number of texts sent in 2012 from the iPhone of a girl, who was then 12, were found on a mobile phone which police said they believed belonged to Rayworth. Jurors heard from the girl, now 14 – who gave evidence via video link at Rayworth’s trial – how she could not recall the messages. March 2012 ‘I’m not a prostitute,’ girl of 15 tells man offering £100 for sex AN internet pest offered £100 for a one-night stand with a 15-year-old girl, who texted back “I am not a prostitute”, a court heard. Mark Rayworth, 43, had made contact via Facebook, claiming he was “only 37”, and eventually met her at the McDonald’s restaurant in Allenton on October 20. She went with two friends and the meeting took at least 90 minutes but “there was no physical contact”, said Martin Hirst, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court. Rayworth bought drinks and ice cream as well as giving the girl £30 and 20 cigarettes during the meeting. “The next day, she received text messages. “He said he would give her £100 for sex. “He said ‘Can’t get you out of my head. You are well fit’.” After he offered her £100 for a “one-night stand”, the girl texted back: “I am not a prostitute”. She had already told Rayworth she had a boyfriend and was “happy”. Mr Hirst said Rayworth was arrested on October 28. “He tried to laugh it off, saying it was all a bit of banter. “The girl distinctly remembers telling her age. “He offered to take her out to buy cigarettes and alcohol and offered to take her out for a drink. “She reminded him that she was still at school,” said Mr Hirst. Rayworth, of Wren Way, Mickleover, admitted the sexual grooming of a girl. He had no previous convictions. He was put on probation for three years and must attend a sex offenders group work programme. Recorder Michael Elsom said immediate prison would not allow Rayworth the chance of treatment. “You need some degree of education and retraining to make sure you are not taken to behave in this way again when your life has dealt you a bad set,” he told Rayworth, who was put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. He was banned from using the internet and messaging services to contact any girl under 16. Clive Stockwell, in mitigation, said Rayworth had financial problems and his relationship had broken down at the time of the offence. “He was emotionally overwrought and in a place where he found himself drinking too much and was lonely,” Mr Stockwell told the court. “The defendant was trying to seduce the complainant.