MARK STEVENSON AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN HOLSWORTHY AND BARNSTAPLE
| Red Rose Database
Holsworthy Rapist
A disturbing case has emerged involving Mark Stevenson, a man from Pilton Causeway, Barnstaple, who engaged in a series of predatory and illegal online activities targeting teenagers and children. The court heard that Stevenson, aged 37, exploited the anonymity of the internet to communicate with what he believed were underage girls, primarily aged 12 and 13, in chatrooms and messaging platforms.
Stevenson initiated conversations that quickly turned sexual, expressing a desire to engage in sexual acts with the minors he believed he was speaking to. Unbeknownst to him, the individuals on the other end of his communications were undercover police officers operating as decoys to catch online predators. Despite being arrested, Stevenson’s offending did not cease; he continued to seek inappropriate contact, asking a decoy if she was a virgin and sending explicit videos of himself masturbation.
According to court documents, Stevenson’s actions reflected a pattern of disturbing behavior. He was charged with distributing indecent images of children, attempting to communicate sexually with minors, and sharing content depicting children aged between five and 16. Police investigations revealed that Stevenson had joined various online platforms such as Kik Messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp, where he engaged in explicit conversations. He pursued contact with multiple decoys, in some occasions following what he believed to be teenage girls — including a 13-year-old girl — with lewd suggestions and requests for photographs.
The case was initiated after police officers visited Stevenson’s home in November 2020, seizing various electronic devices. Forensic analysis uncovered messages dating back to November 2017, in which Stevenson expressed enthusiasm about sharing sexual fantasies involving children with other offenders. These exchanges also included sharing indecent images of minors, with victims aged as young as five.
Further investigations revealed that Stevenson had, after his initial arrest and release under investigation, committed nearly identical offences in July 2021. He entered a teenage chatroom named UK Teen Friends and engaged in explicit messaging with a 12-year-old girl. Stevenson sent her an indecent video and explicitly stated his desire to see her naked.
During the trial, the prosecution was represented by Ms. Victoria Bastock, who conveyed the severity of Stevenson’s actions. The court was told that despite being aware that the individuals he was communicating with were minors or decoys, Stevenson persisted in his illegal activities. The judge, Peter Johnson, addressed Stevenson directly, emphasizing that these offences demonstrated a clear and disturbing sexual interest in young children and early teenagers. The judge noted that Stevenson had minimized his conduct by claiming he was merely participating in the fantasies of others, but the evidence made clear the predatory nature of his actions.
In mitigation, defense lawyer Mr. Jason Beal argued that Stevenson had endured a difficult period during the COVID-19 lockdown, including the loss of family members, and suggested he was a candidate for rehabilitation. However, the court’s decision was firm.
Stevenson was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for a period of 10 years and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), also for 10 years. The judge emphasized the serious nature of the crimes and the importance of monitoring to protect the public from such offending behavior.
Stevenson initiated conversations that quickly turned sexual, expressing a desire to engage in sexual acts with the minors he believed he was speaking to. Unbeknownst to him, the individuals on the other end of his communications were undercover police officers operating as decoys to catch online predators. Despite being arrested, Stevenson’s offending did not cease; he continued to seek inappropriate contact, asking a decoy if she was a virgin and sending explicit videos of himself masturbation.
According to court documents, Stevenson’s actions reflected a pattern of disturbing behavior. He was charged with distributing indecent images of children, attempting to communicate sexually with minors, and sharing content depicting children aged between five and 16. Police investigations revealed that Stevenson had joined various online platforms such as Kik Messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp, where he engaged in explicit conversations. He pursued contact with multiple decoys, in some occasions following what he believed to be teenage girls — including a 13-year-old girl — with lewd suggestions and requests for photographs.
The case was initiated after police officers visited Stevenson’s home in November 2020, seizing various electronic devices. Forensic analysis uncovered messages dating back to November 2017, in which Stevenson expressed enthusiasm about sharing sexual fantasies involving children with other offenders. These exchanges also included sharing indecent images of minors, with victims aged as young as five.
Further investigations revealed that Stevenson had, after his initial arrest and release under investigation, committed nearly identical offences in July 2021. He entered a teenage chatroom named UK Teen Friends and engaged in explicit messaging with a 12-year-old girl. Stevenson sent her an indecent video and explicitly stated his desire to see her naked.
During the trial, the prosecution was represented by Ms. Victoria Bastock, who conveyed the severity of Stevenson’s actions. The court was told that despite being aware that the individuals he was communicating with were minors or decoys, Stevenson persisted in his illegal activities. The judge, Peter Johnson, addressed Stevenson directly, emphasizing that these offences demonstrated a clear and disturbing sexual interest in young children and early teenagers. The judge noted that Stevenson had minimized his conduct by claiming he was merely participating in the fantasies of others, but the evidence made clear the predatory nature of his actions.
In mitigation, defense lawyer Mr. Jason Beal argued that Stevenson had endured a difficult period during the COVID-19 lockdown, including the loss of family members, and suggested he was a candidate for rehabilitation. However, the court’s decision was firm.
Stevenson was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for a period of 10 years and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), also for 10 years. The judge emphasized the serious nature of the crimes and the importance of monitoring to protect the public from such offending behavior.