Man jailed for historic sexual abuse of a child over 20 years ago

A man who was previously convicted of a series of sexual abuse on a young girl more than 20 years ago has been jailed for 28 years.

Mark Anthony Foster, (who is also known as Tony), of Forster Avenue, Weaverham, was found guilty of 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, four counts of rape of a girl under 16, four counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14, and one count of rape of a girl over 16, on Friday 12 April following a 13-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

The 62-year-old appeared back at the same court to be sentenced on Thursday 13 June.

The court had heard Foster committed a number of indecent assaults and rapes on a girl between 1995 and 2001, when the victim was aged between nine and sixteen.

The case came to the attention of Cheshire Police in August 2020 when the victim bravely came forward to disclose what had happened to her.

She reported the offences took place in the Northwich area by Foster. Over a period of seven years, Foster groomed the victim, subjecting her to multiple indecent assaults and rapes.

The offences became more violent as time progressed, including administering the victim with medication before raping her.

In interviews following his arrest, Foster continued to deny the allegations, but was subsequently charged in January 2023 and found guilty following a 13-day trial.

On top of his 28-year custodial sentence, Foster will be subject to an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and will be subject to the sex offender register for life. 

Following his conviction, the officer leading on the case, DC Paul Beesley, said:

“I am grateful for the sentence handed down to Foster, and I hope this can finally bring some sense of closure to the victim, who has had to carry this on her shoulders for more than 20 years.

“The offences which Foster cruelly subjected her to were incredibly violent and persistent, and even after this sustained grooming and abuse, he put her through the stressful process of a trial.

"The offences were some of the most horrific and violent I have seen, and the victim must be credited for her bravery on reporting this abuse to the police and I am pleased she now has the justice she deserves.

“Thankfully, this was the last time she will have to face him, as the jury saw through his lies and he is now serving a lengthy sentence where he can’t do this to anyone else.

“As this case shows, we treat all reports of non-recent sexual offences seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.

“Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse – no matter how long ago the incident took place – is urged to come forward and report it to Cheshire Police on 101 or through our website.”

Pictured - Mark Anthony Foster (who is also known as Tony), of Forster Avenue in Weaverham.