In 2022, Mark Finnemore, a St Kew Paedophile, was sentenced to imprisonment for coercing a 10-year-old girl to transmit indecent recordings and images of herself. Warped Mark Finnemore, 44, additionally expressed to the girl his desire to “engage in sexual intercourse with her throughout the night.”
Mark Finnemore, hailing from St Kew near Bodmin, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two charges of causing or persuading a minor to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual contact with a child.
In prosecuting the case, Felicity Payne detailed how the offences occurred over one evening in December 2020.
Much of Ms Payne’s account is too detailed to disclose; however, she indicated that Mark Finnemore established contact with the victim on Snapchat, which the victim welcomed.
Ms Payne recounted the conversation between Mark Finnemore and the victim regarding their ages. She informed him that she was 12 but actually 10, to which he responded that he was too old for her.
Ms Payne stated, “The innocuous dialogue rapidly devolved into something more.” Throughout the communication, Mark Finnemore solicited and received explicit images and videos of the girl, while also participating in lewd dialogue.
During a police interrogation, Mark Finnemore confessed to all allegations, including the transmission and receipt of photographs. Ms Payne stated: “The defendant claimed he was somewhat inebriated at the time and attempted to delete the images and conversation upon awakening the following day.” He acknowledged from the beginning that he knew she was a minor and urged her to transmit the photographs and content she provided. He was sincerely remorseful and contrite.
In a victim impact statement, the victim’s mother says what happened continues to affect the whole family and that she finds it very distressing that her daughter’s innocence was taken in this way. The offending has also altered her personality, confidence and behaviour.
The victim herself spoke of being sad and upset as she knew what was happening was wrong, but she felt scared and that she had to do what she said.
Representing Mark Finnemore, Rupert Taylor said: “He admitted to the offences and is genuinely remorseful and ashamed about what he has done.” Mr Taylor added that Mark Finnemore’s life was in turmoil at the time of the offence and that he no longer drinks alcohol.
Sentencing Mark Finnemore, Judge Simon Carr said the victim made it clear she was a 12 from the beginning. He added that he was staggered by how quickly Mark Finnemore turned the conversation sexual before going on to send and request what he did.
Judge Carr said: “It is clear this has had a significant psychological impact on the victim and may well affect her for the rest of her life.”
Judge Carr then listed Mark Finnemore’s mitigation – his good character, his plea, his references and that the offending took place over a short period before jailing him for three years.
Mark Finnemore must also sign the sex offenders’ register for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
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