MARK ROBINSON FROM DARLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING INDECENT IMAGES AND ONLINE SHARING
In a series of disturbing criminal cases, Mark Robinson, a resident of Darlington, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple offences related to the possession, creation, and distribution of indecent images of children.His crimes span over several years, highlighting a persistent pattern of offending that has shocked the local community and prompted serious concern among law enforcement authorities.
In April 2022, Robinson, aged 40, was sentenced to a substantial prison term after being found guilty of possessing a large collection of illegal images and videos depicting children in sexual abuse scenarios.
The police investigation revealed that he had downloaded a total of 680 such images and videos, categorized into various severity levels, including 119 of the most serious Category A images.
Additionally, he possessed 105 Category B images and 456 Category C images, all depicting minors in distressing and illegal circumstances.
Further compounding his crimes, Robinson was found to have shared 16 of these illicit images with other adults through popular messaging platforms Kik and Snapchat.
The court was informed that Robinson had been released from prison just a year prior for similar offences, and under the terms of a strict sexual harm prevention order, he was under police supervision, with a designated officer monitoring his online activity.
In July 2020, authorities seized his iPhone 7 during a visit to his workplace.
The device contained the illegal images and videos, some of which showed children who appeared to be drugged, with some in obvious distress.
Police forensic experts also uncovered that Robinson had created aliases on social media, such as “Callum 818” and “Callum Read,” to evade detection.
He had installed encryption software on his phone, making it difficult for investigators to access the stored data.
Robinson, currently held at HMP Northumberland, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of distributing such images, and breaches of his sex offender notification requirements and the sexual harm prevention order.
His criminal record is extensive, with four convictions totaling 35 previous offences, all related to child sex crimes.
Notably, in August 2020, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison for similar offences involving illegal images of children.
Judge Jonathan Carroll addressed Robinson directly during sentencing, emphasizing the severity of his breaches.
He stated that Robinson’s iPhone demonstrated a significant violation of the measures designed to control the risk he posed to the public and children.
The judge highlighted that Robinson had been in regular communication with others sharing similar sexual interests towards children via Kik messenger.
A pre-sentence report classified him as a “high risk” to children, leading to a custodial sentence of four years and six months.
Robinson’s criminal history dates back to 2009, when he was first convicted of possessing nearly 9,000 images and videos of child abuse, including some involving babies.
He received a nine-month prison sentence and was placed under a ten-year sex offender registration requirement.
His offending persisted over the years, with further breaches of court orders and continued possession and sharing of illegal material.
In August 2019, Robinson was again in court after breaching a sexual harm prevention order by engaging in a relationship with a woman who had a young child, without disclosing his past convictions.
Although initially spared jail and given a community order, subsequent offences in 2020 led to a more severe sentence.
During this period, Robinson admitted to downloading indecent images and breaching notification requirements, citing personal issues and mental health struggles as contributing factors.
Throughout his criminal career, Robinson has demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior, with authorities and courts recognizing the high risk he poses to children.
His repeated breaches and escalation of offending have resulted in lengthy prison sentences, reflecting the seriousness with which the justice system treats such violations.
The community remains vigilant, and law enforcement continues efforts to monitor and prevent similar crimes in the Darlington area and beyond.
