MARK WHINCUP SHOCKS COLWYN BAY WITH CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER INVOLVEMENT IN S&M DUNGEON AND DRUG DEALING

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Colwyn Bay, Mark Whincup, a 51-year-old well-known children’s entertainer and magician from Rhos-on-Sea, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children, distributing such material, and engaging in drug-related activities involving crystal meth.

Whincup, who was popularly known as “Magic Mark,” appeared visibly distressed during the sentencing hearing at Mold Crown Court on Thursday. Throughout the proceedings, he was seen crying as the court detailed the extent of his criminal conduct, which included bringing a fellow American with a perverted interest into local schools under the guise of work experience, raising serious concerns about the safety of children in the community.

The court was informed that police had uncovered a significant cache of illegal material stored on computers in the attic of Whincup’s residence. The evidence included 121 indecent images and 748 films, some of which were classified as “extreme” and involved animals. Prosecutor David Mainstone described the scene as resembling an “S&M dungeon,” complete with sex toys, bondage equipment, computers, and a camcorder, revealing the depraved nature of Whincup’s private life.

Further investigation revealed that Whincup was battling a serious addiction to crystal meth, despite his role working with the drug and alcohol agency CAIS, where he was involved in educational projects such as “Don’t Touch, Tell,” aimed at warning children about the dangers of needles and drug use. Police seized videos from his home showing him engaging in sexual acts with two men and injecting them with the Class A drug. The evidence also included recordings of video conferences with other men, during which he distributed perverted images.

One of the most shocking revelations was that Whincup had taken a man from the United States to local schools, falsely presenting him as a work experience participant, while the American observed Whincup working with children. Although no children directly harmed during his interactions as an entertainer, the court emphasized the potential risk posed by his actions and the disturbing nature of his private activities.

In addition to the indecent images and drug-related offenses, Whincup admitted to making and downloading indecent images from the internet, sharing some via Skype and other media platforms, and supplying crystal meth to others. His criminal activities spanned from January 2012 to July of the previous year.

Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Whincup to two years in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years, and imposed a ten-year Sex Offender Prevention Order. The judge expressed deep disappointment, stating that Whincup’s career, reputation, and livelihood had been irreparably damaged due to his own depravity. He remarked that the true victims were the children depicted in the illegal material, who had suffered unimaginable trauma.

Judge Rowlands condemned Whincup’s repeated pursuit of vile images, his distribution of such material, and his involvement in drug sharing, which he said was aimed at removing inhibitions to feed his depraved behavior. The court noted that Whincup had injected others with crystal meth in his attic, which had been converted into a space for his illicit activities.

While the defendant’s guilty pleas and the references provided on his behalf were taken into account, the judge questioned whether those references fully understood the gravity of his actions. He also highlighted the disturbing nature of Whincup’s decision to bring a known pervert into schools, stating, “If you were a parent of one of those children, now knowing the nature of the man, and taking another man with him around schools, it would make you incandescent.”

Prosecutor David Mainstone pointed out that Whincup’s work with CAIS, particularly on the “Don’t Touch, Tell” project, was aimed at protecting children from the dangers of drugs, making his criminal conduct even more reprehensible. Whincup, who had previously appeared in local pantomimes and performed magic at children’s birthday parties and schools, was described as a trusted figure in the community before his arrest.

His defense lawyer, Ceri Evans, acknowledged that Whincup was aware of the duality of his life but insisted that he kept his private activities separate from his public persona. She described his arrest as “the worst and best day of his life,” noting that he was no longer addicted to drugs and was remorseful for his actions. Whincup expressed understanding of the seriousness of his crimes and stated he was glad the ordeal was over.

In total, Whincup admitted to 20 charges, including four counts of distributing indecent images of children, nine counts of making indecent images, one count of possessing 117 indecent images, and another of possessing 743 indecent movie images. Additional charges involved extreme images involving animals and the supply of crystal meth. All offenses occurred between January 2012 and July of the previous year.

Earlier in the proceedings, it was clarified that none of the images involved children he had come into contact with during his work as an entertainer, providing some reassurance to the community. Nonetheless, the case has left many residents of Colwyn Bay deeply unsettled, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in the community.