In 2015, the Offender Database reported that Mark Klein, then 49, of no fixed address, was sentenced to two years in prison at Carlisle Crown Court. On Friday, 25 September 2015, Klein was jailed for twice breaching an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) just months after his release from a previous custodial term.
The investigation established that Klein had attempted to bypass police monitoring by using a hidden mobile phone and a tablet to surf the internet. Under the terms of his SOPO, he was strictly prohibited from accessing the web on any device not fitted with police-approved monitoring equipment. Judge Paul Batty QC emphasised that Klein’s actions represented a calculated attempt to return to the predatory behaviours that led to his original incarceration.
Predatory History and 2013 Conviction
In January 2013, Klein, then of Charles Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, was labelled a “nightmare” to parents after being sentenced to four-and-a-half years for a “reprehensible” campaign of sexual exploitation. His trial revealed that he had:
- Voyeurism: Installed hidden cameras in bathrooms to spy on women and a girl while they were undressed.
- Grooming: Set up a fictional Facebook profile to contact young, vulnerable girls and instruct them to delete their chat histories.
- Indecent Acts: Lured a 15-year-old girl to an abandoned quarry at midnight on his motorbike, where he attempted to kiss her and made sexual suggestions.
When police examined his computer to investigate reports of his grooming, they discovered the secret bathroom footage. Klein “arrogantly” attempted to claim he was only trying to catch a girl smoking, but forensic evidence confirmed he had watched the recordings for his own sexual gratification. He also attempted to pervert the course of justice by pressuring a victim to lie to the police.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “persistent” crimes in Carlisle, Cumbria, Mark Klein was handed:
- Initial Sentence (2013): Four-and-a-half years in immediate custody.
- Breach Sentence (2015): Two years in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were imposed for life.
- SOPO: An indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order containing stringent conditions regarding his use of technology and contact with minors.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Klein is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Cumbria Constabulary. Judge Barbara Forrester previously described him as a “significant risk” to the population, particularly teenage girls. His history of using assumed names and “systematic” premeditation marks him as a high-risk predator.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Klein must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address in Carlisle, Cumbria. Cumbria Constabulary states that his recent breaches demonstrate his ongoing refusal to acknowledge the law. Any further attempts to conceal digital devices or a breach of his indefinite SOPO will result in his immediate return to Carlisle Crown Court.
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