Verwood Man Jailed For Arranging Child Rape

29 January 2014, 14:17

A Dorset man's been jailed for five years for arranging to rape children over the internet.

29-year-old Mark Luscombe, from Manor Road in Verwood, has been sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, sexual activity with a child and eight offences of making indecent photographs of a child.

Once he serves his sentence, he will be subject to an indefinite notification period (Sexual Offenders Register) and to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Following the sentence Anthony Johns, Head of CPS Wessex Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said:

“What Mark Luscombe did and was planning to do is shocking and frightening. He actively used the internet to arrange and encourage others based mainly in America to sexually abuse and rape their own children.

“The internet and its chat rooms provided him with both the opportunity and anonymity to carry on with his life without raising any suspicions around him.

“Using the user name BADMOMLOVER he transferred a large quantity of indecent images of children to a man who he believed was based in America, as payment for the same man to rape his daughter. Luscombe’s intention was to watch the man raping his daughter and giving him direction over a webcam.

“Luscombe then distributed two further indecent images to another man, believing that he would later meet him and that together they would rape the man’s two young daughters.

“Fortunately the two men that he had communicated with were covert internet investigators, whose roles were to mirror the actions of perpetrators like Luscombe. Thanks to their investigation Luscombe was apprehended and compelling evidence was gathered against him.

“Following a thorough analysis of his laptop, USB stick and mobile phone Dorset Police found 184 indecent images of children on his computer and 178 movies showing sexual abuse of children ranging from less serious to very serious images (level1 to level 5).

“During his police interview, Luscombe admitted having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.

“Luscombe was fully aware of he was doing. He knew it was wrong and that he was committing very serious criminal offences. There is no doubt that he would have carried on with his crimes if he had not been apprehended.

“Making or possessing indecent images involving children is a serious criminal offence and leads to the continued abuse and exploitation of children.

“This prosecution serves as a warning to others who possess, view or download indecent images of children or arrange the sexual exploitation of children thinking that they will never be caught. CPS Wessex Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit will continue to work very closely with Dorset Police Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team to gather compelling evidence to bring these individuals to justice.”

In a statement outside court after sentencing, DS Gavin Dudfield from Dorset Police said:   

"The crimes committed by Mark Luscombe are unacceptable and will not be tolerated by law enforcement agencies. I am glad that Dorset Police, with the assistance of the National Crime Agency’s CEOP command, the Metropolitan Police and the Department of Homeland Security have been able to bring this offender to justice and safeguard children from around the world.

"These crimes were investigated by officers from within the newly formed Dorset Police Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT), who work closely with partner agencies and other police forces to identify and prosecute offenders and protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation.

"Tackling child abuse is a priority for all of us in the criminal justice system and Dorset Police has specially trained officers to deal with any such reports.

"Targeting criminals on the internet and safeguarding children from serious harm remains a priority for Dorset Police in 2014 and beyond.

"The message is simple and very clear; if you commit these crimes we find you, arrest you and bring you to justice."