A Metropolitan Police investigation into a Paedophile, Mark Franklin, who sexually abused four adolescent girls in Barking has resulted in his imprisonment for 18 and a half years.
Mark Franklin, aged 56 (born 10 March 1968), of Westrow Drive, Barking, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 14 March. He has been permanently registered as a sex offender.
The inquiry commenced in April 2024 following an allegation from a 15-year-old girl alleging sexual assault by an acquaintance.
By establishing a connection with the victim-survivor, officers uncovered that Mark Franklin had also assaulted three additional girls.
On 22 October 2024, before the same court, Mark Franklin was unanimously convicted by a jury of:
- One count of rape of a child under 16
- Two counts of sexual assault by penetration
- Three counts of sexual assault
- One count of causing a child to engage in a sexual act
Detective Constable Jodie Singer, who led the investigation, said: “Today we achieved justice for these four girls and I hope the severity of the sentence can provide some comfort to them and their families.
“During the entire investigation, Franklin exhibited no remorse whatsoever. He was so at ease in his transgressions that even after recording the heinous assaults, he never anticipated being apprehended.
The teenage victim-survivors have demonstrated exceptional courage during this process; their resilience and cooperation have been instrumental in achieving his conviction. I wish to express my gratitude for their confidence in the police and for their fortitude throughout this challenging period.
From August 2023 to January 2024, Mark Franklin sexually attacked four victim-survivors, aged 15 and 16, during their visits to his residence. He would incapacitate them with drugs and drink, and while they were intoxicated, he would sexually abuse them, frequently recording his actions.
He called the metamorphosis induced by the medications as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘really astonishing.’
The court was informed that Mark Franklin sought to downplay the abuse, characterising it as ‘merely a bit of fun.’
Officers discovered numerous texts in which Mark Franklin expressed his affection for one victim-survivor, revealing his secret admiration for her and his perception of her beauty.
The Metropolitan Police are intensifying efforts to combat violence against women and girls. By engaging with victim-survivors and collaborating with charities and stakeholders within the criminal justice system, we are striving to instill confidence in all victims-survivors to report these heinous crimes.
The core of our revised methodology in rape investigations emphasises the suspect’s background, moving away from assessing the ‘credibility’ of the victim-survivor. This indicates that the victim undergoes a less invasive procedure when reporting an occurrence such as rape, which authorities recognise is already an exceedingly challenging period for them.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.