Northwich man jailed for online sexual offences

A man from Northwich has been jailed for 23 years after he admitted engaging in online sexual communications with a child.

Mark Woodcock, of Belmont Road, Northwich, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 30 May where he was sentenced to 17-years in prison plus six years on extended licence.

The 29-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to 27 charges, including attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, causing a child to watch sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images of children and distribution of indecent images of children.

In addition to his prison sentence, he was also ordered to sign the sexual offenders register for life.

The court heard how Woodcock had engaged with the profile of a 12-year-old girl on snap chat. During the messages he engaged sexualised communications with the child and sent her a number of explicit images and videos. He also encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

Woodcock was later arrested on Tuesday 14 November 2023 following a warrant at his home in Northwich where officers recovered several digital devices including mobile phones, and a laptop.

During subsequent analysis of the devices, officers discovered 80 indecent images of children, along with a number of snapchat messages with another child, who was confirmed as being under the age of 16.

Again, within the messages Woodcock shared indecent images of himself and encouraged them to engage in sexual activity.

In his interview, Woodcock provided a pre-prepared statement claiming that no one he had spoken to online had identified themselves as being 12 years old. He then refused to answer any further questions put to him by officers.

Despite his silence, he was later charged with a total of 27 offences.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“I welcome the sentence handed to Woodcock, who was left with no choice but to plead guilty to all of the charges as a result of the messages and indecent images that we discovered on his devices.

“He was well aware that his victims were underage, and as a 29-year-old man he knew what he was doing was wrong, but despite this he continued with his deceitful actions.

“Through the use of social media, he specifically targeted young girls, plying them with sexualised messages and indecent images in order to fulfil his own sexual desires.

“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence we gathered, he has now been held accountable for his actions and is facing a significant time behind bars where he can reflect upon his actions.”

To report any sexual offence call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or visit: 

www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences

Always call 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be passed anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on:

0800 555 111

Pictured - Mark Woodcock of Belmont Road in Northwich.