In 2020, the Offender Database reported that Mark Kevin Backhurst, then 52, of Royal Oak Court, Louth, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. On 18 November 2020, Backhurst was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court following a trial where a jury found him guilty of a “vile” sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.
The investigation established that the assault involved a girl who was significantly under the age of consent. The prosecution reported that the trial commenced on 3 November 2020, and after hearing the evidence, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict on 9 November. Lincolnshire Police emphasised that the conviction resulted from a thorough investigation into the defendant’s “predatory” behaviour.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Backhurst had targeted a vulnerable young child, representing an “appalling” breach of safety. During the sentencing, the judge emphasised that the six-and-a-half-year term reflected the severity of the offence and the lifelong impact such abuse has on victims. The prosecution emphasised that the jury’s unanimous verdict underscored the strength of the evidence presented against Backhurst.
The judge emphasised that Backhurst’s actions required a significant period of immediate incarceration to protect the public. The prosecution emphasised that the victim and her family demonstrated great resolve throughout the trial. For his crimes in Louth, the court determined that Backhurst posed a clear danger to children, necessitating indefinite monitoring by authorities following his release from prison.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Lincolnshire, Mark Kevin Backhurst was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six years and six months in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are now in effect indefinitely.
- Conviction: Found guilty of one count of sexual assault of a child under 13.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Backhurst is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lincolnshire Police and the prison estate. Due to the nature of his offence against a young girl, his status remains under high-level scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As an indefinite member of the Sex Offenders Register, Backhurst must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Royal Oak Court, Louth. Authorities state that his registration is a critical tool to ensure he is monitored and restricted from environments where he could access children. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms upon release will result in his immediate arrest and return to Lincoln Crown Court.
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