Mark Williams

Mark Williams, a 45-year-old man from Preston, was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for committing serious sexual offences against a young girl. The offences occurred when the victim was in her early teens, involving rape, causing a female to engage in sexual activity, assault by touching, and assault by penetration. Williams, who had no fixed address, initially denied the charges but pleaded guilty earlier in the year after the victim had given evidence in court.

The case came to light when the victim disclosed the abuse to her work colleagues, prompting one of them to report it to the police. Lancashire Police's Child Protection team launched a thorough investigation, leading to Williams' arrest. During the search of his phone, officers discovered thousands of indecent images, with at least 2,500 classified as the highest category of seriousness. Williams had claimed the sexual activity with the girl was consensual when she was 16, but the evidence proved otherwise.

At Preston Crown Court on 28 November 2025, Williams refused to appear via live link from prison where he was on remand. In his absence, the judge imposed a 20-year sentence for the rape offences, comprising 18 years in custody and an extended two-year licence period. An additional consecutive one-year sentence was added for the possession of indecent images, bringing the total to 21 years. The judge classified Williams as a dangerous offender, requiring him to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before eligibility for parole. A sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to protect the victim were also imposed.

Detective Sergeant Aria Mahoney of Lancashire Police's Child Protection team commented on the case, stating: "Williams committed disgusting sexual offences against a young girl, and I welcome the lengthy prison sentence imposed on him. His offending was abhorrent, and Williams’ manipulative behaviour continued during the court process when he ran a trial before changing his plea – but only once the victim and another witness had given evidence." The investigation was conducted by Lancashire Police, highlighting their commitment to protecting children and bringing perpetrators to justice.