In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Marcus McPherson, then 21, of Dunveth Road, Wadebridge, Cornwall, was handed a significant prison sentence at Truro Crown Court. McPherson was branded a “dangerous and violent sexual predator” after admitting to a “vile” catalogue of criminality against four young girls, involving grooming, blackmail, and physical sexual assault.
The investigation by Devon & Cornwall Police revealed that McPherson’s behaviour began in 2015. He used social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat to target girls as young as 13, bombarding them with “vicious” and persistent sexual messages. His crimes only came to light after the authorities obtained a Sexual Risk Order (SRO) against him in 2018, which allowed officers to forensically examine his devices.
“Vicious” Violence and Blackmail
The court reported that McPherson thrived on the violence he exerted over his victims. The “serious” details of his attacks included:
- The First Victim: After meeting in Lanivet in 2015, McPherson “viciously” restrained the 14-year-old girl, telling her it was “what happened to people who said no.”
- The Second Victim: In 2017, he lured a girl to a wooded area in Par and assaulted her so “viciously” that she was left in physical pain.
- Blackmail: Following the assault in Par, he “viciously” blackmailed the victim into sending a naked photograph, which he then distributed to others to cause her further humiliation.
- Online Grooming: He sent thousands of “vile” messages to a 13-year-old and posed as a 16-year-old on Instagram to target another child in 2018.
Judge Simon Carr emphasised that McPherson’s actions went beyond sexual gratification, noting that he clearly enjoyed the “vicious” exercise of power over his victims. The girls targeted by McPherson suffered “serious” emotional and physical harm, including self-harm and disruption to their education.
Sentence and Lifetime Monitoring
McPherson admitted to sexual assault, assault by penetration, distributing an indecent image, sexual grooming, and breaching his Sexual Risk Order. For his “abhorrent” crimes in Wadebridge and across Cornwall, Marcus McPherson was:
- Sentenced to 12 years in prison.
- Ordered to serve an extended four years on licence due to his “serious” danger to the public.
- Placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McPherson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon & Cornwall Police. His residency in Wadebridge, Cornwall, and his digital behaviour remain under the most “serious” level of scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, McPherson is subject to strict notification requirements. Devon & Cornwall Police emphasise that even though the defence argued he was “immature,” his “vicious” and “serious” predatory behaviour necessitated a long custodial sentence. Any breach of his lifetime SHPO or further “vile” online activity will result in his immediate return to Truro Crown Court.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.