MARK WHITEHURST BURIED BABY IN FENTON SCRAPYARD AFTER REPEATEDLY RAPING TEENAGER
In a chilling case that has shocked the Staffordshire community, Mark Whitehurst, a 47-year-old scrap dealer from Middleport, Fenton, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving a teenage girl.The offenses include multiple counts of rape, sexual activity with a minor, and the concealment of a newborn child's birth, culminating in the tragic discovery of the infant's remains.
Whitehurst's criminal actions came to light after the teenage victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, bravely came forward to police in June of this year.
Her testimony revealed a horrifying pattern of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse inflicted by Whitehurst over an extended period.
The girl recounted her ordeal, describing the pregnancy and childbirth as the most terrifying experiences she had ever endured.
During her victim impact statement read aloud at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, she detailed the profound trauma she suffered.
She expressed how the abuse had left her physically and psychologically scarred, feeling degraded and forever changed.
The girl lamented the loss of her childhood, emphasizing that she would never regain what was taken from her.
Prosecutor Robert Price explained that the girl had managed to give birth alone, with the baby alive and crying at the time of birth.
The infant was placed in a basket with fluff in its mouth and then hidden in a box.
Unbeknownst to Whitehurst, the girl had concealed her pregnancy and the birth from him.
However, when Whitehurst discovered the existence of the baby days later, he insisted on disposing of the child.
Court records reveal that he dug a hole at his rented scrapyard in Fenton and convinced an employee to assist him in burying the newborn.
Defense attorney Paul Cliff argued that Whitehurst was unaware of the pregnancy and the birth, claiming that after the event, he believed the girl had suffered a gynecological issue.
He acknowledged that Whitehurst recognized he had committed wrongdoings and expressed a need for help to address his distorted thoughts and actions.
Judge Mark Eades delivered a stern judgment, condemning Whitehurst's manipulative behavior and the tragic consequences of his actions.
The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of the case, particularly the fact that the girl gave birth alone and frightened, and that Whitehurst took deliberate steps to conceal and dispose of the baby in the scrapyard.
While acknowledging that worse cases exist, the judge emphasized the gravity of this case and the profound impact on the victim and her family.
