Man pleads guilty to 49 child sex offences

A man has pleaded guilty to 49 child sex offences, which include sexual activity with children and taking and distributing indecent photos.

Mark South, a Jamaican national from Ashford in Kent, crossed county borders to target his victims, who he offered items like vapes and trainers in exchange for sexual acts.

Police were alerted to his behaviour after a safeguarding officer at a school in Swindon, Wiltshire, raised the alarm.

South, 38, pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court earlier and will be sentenced in December.

At court, he also admitted charges including blackmail, engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child into sexual exploitation and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Police say "a number of victims" were from the Swindon area. Other victims were located across the south of the country, from Essex to Cornwall.

Det Con Geoff Newnham said the "extraordinary courage" of South's victims meant justice had been achieved.

He continued: "I am particularly pleased that they will not now have to relive their traumatic experiences by giving evidence at trial following South's last minute guilty pleas.

"I hope this case sends a clear message to anyone experiencing abuse that they will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.

"Equally, it should serve as a warning to offenders who believe they can hide behind a computer screen."

Wiltshire Police launched an investigation into South's behaviour, as part of Operation Shed, in May 2023.

Newnham said: "Over a number of years, he used a complex network of social media aliases, burner phones and prepaid numbers to groom, manipulate and blackmail children into sexual exploitation across a wide geographical area."

South is due to be sentenced on 14 December.

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