Newcastle paedophile made explicit comments about the abusing children

Mark Craig is now behind bars as a result of a complex police operation by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

Earlier this year, Craig believed he was talking online to a man who had access to young girls, including a baby.

He persisted in sending him explicit and descriptive messages about sexually abusing the children as well as explicit images and videos of himself.

‘Dangerous paedophile’ Mark Craig jailed for 90 months for online references about sexually abusing children (Image: Northumbria Police)

The defendant even encouraged the rape of an eight-year-old child and a baby aged less than one. 

But what he didn’t realise was that he was actually speaking to a decoy police officer who was carrying out an investigation.

It led to Craig’s arrest, in March, and he was subsequently charged with arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, making an indecent image of a child and distributing an indecent image of a child.

He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and pleaded guilty to all charges.

The 56-year-old defendant, of Westerhope, Newcastle, appeared back at the court today (Friday June 26) when he received a prison sentence of seven years and six months (90 months).

He was also made subject of both registration as a sex offender and the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, in each case to run “indefinitely”.

Speaking after the sentencing, NEROCU Detective Inspector Hull, said “Thankfully, this investigation has resulted in the sentencing of a dangerous paedophile who was a serious threat to children.

“This was down to the hard work of officers who do an incredibly difficult job trying to identify these predators and bring them to justice. 

“Under Operation Sentinel, our regional approach to tacking serious and organised crime, we will continue to investigate these online offences to safeguard children.”

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Anyone with concerns about child abuse or seeking to report a crime can contact their local police force via its website, or by calling 101.

The advice is to always dial 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, callers can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111