Mark Webster, a sex offender and Dalmellington Paedophile, has pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of child abuse images and posted social media messages expressing his affection for young adolescents.
Mark Webster admitted to the creation, facilitation, or possession of indecent pictures from April 20 to July 15 of the previous year at his residence on Merrick Drive, Dalmellington.
The 32-year-old stated he would “pursue legal action” against our Ayrshire Weekly Press reporter, asserting we had “no right to be present” at his appearance in Ayr Sheriff Court, after acknowledging a second allegation of distributing or exhibiting indecent photos between April 20 to July 20, 2023.
Prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to additional accusations of possessing the same photographs and extreme pornography portraying girls with dogs during his court appearance on December 4.
A Crown prosecutor stated during last week’s hearing: “Mark Webster was discovered in possession of 759 indecent still and moving images ranging from category A to C.”
Evidence of file sharing was also discovered on his mobile phone, indicating his involvement in the distribution of child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
On May 22, 2023, Police Scotland received information providing reasonable grounds to suspect that Mark Webster possessed obscene material involving children. A search order was issued, and investigators from Police Scotland visited his residence on July 20.
“Police seized a Samsung mobile phone from Mark Webster’s bedroom and informed him that it would be examined.
The procurator fiscal depute added: “An interim examination was carried out on July 21 which confirmed indecent material. On the same date, he returned to his home address and was arrested and conveyed to Kilmarnock police office.
“Mark Webster made no comment during interview and replied ‘nope’ to caution and charge. He was released on an undertaking to appear in court.”
The fiscal depute told the court that 340 inaccessible category A still images were discovered on Webster’s device – the worst level of abuse.
Various chat threads were recovered on one application, Telegram, containing messages from the user requesting details from others to trade in indecent content.
Various acronyms were found which associated the accused with child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
The fiscal depute said: “Further chats on Snapchat were found and several associated the accused with child abuse material and sending media files. The content of some files is unknown having expired.
“The accused stated he liked young girls and at one point said he ‘loved lil teens’.”
The prosecutor told Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart that the Crown intended to make a motion seeking a further sexual harm prevention order against Mark Webster at sentencing.
Defence solicitor Derek Pettigrew said: “There are no new offences that have come to light and no previous.”
Sheriff MacTaggart said: “Given the type of crime you have pleaded guilty to I will require to have background reports and a risk assessment. You will remain on bail, please make sure you cooperate fully.”
Mark Webster, who will be sentenced at a later date, will also be subject to sex offender registration requirements in the meantime.
UPDATE 05.02.25
A perpetrator apprehended for disseminating numerous child exploitation photographs, asserting his affection for ‘young teens,’ has been permitted to reintegrate into the community following a sheriff’s decision to forgo a prison sentence.
Mark Webster was subjected to an additional sexual harm prevention order, limiting his access to social media platforms, during his return to the courtroom last week.
The 32-year-old confessed to producing, allowing the production of, or creating indecent photos between April 20 and July 15, 2023.
The sex offender acknowledged a second allegation of disseminating or displaying obscene photographs between April 20 and July 20, 2023, from his residence on Merrick Drive, Dalmellington.
Webster asserted his intention to “sue” our Ayrshire Weekly Press reporter, alleging that we had “no right to be in” his hearing when he entered a guilty plea on December 4 at Ayr Sheriff Court.
Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas to further allegations, including possession of extreme pornography featuring females with canines.
A procurator fiscal depute stated at a prior hearing: “The accused was discovered in possession of 759 indecent still and moving images ranging from category A to C.”
Evidence on his mobile phone indicated file sharing, implying his involvement in the distribution of child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
On May 22, 2023, Police Scotland received information indicating reasonable grounds to suspect that the accused possessed obscene material involving children. A search order was issued, and investigators from Police Scotland visited his residence on July 20.
The police confiscated a Samsung mobile device from Webster’s bedroom and notified him that it would undergo examination.
The fiscal depute stated: “An interim examination conducted on July 21 confirmed the presence of indecent material.” On the same date, he returned to his residence and was apprehended and transported to Kilmarnock police station.
He remained silent during the interrogation and responded with ‘nope’ to the caution and accusation. He was released on a promise to appear in court.
The court was informed that 340 inaccessible category A still photographs were found on Webster’s device, representing the most severe level of abuse.
Multiple conversation threads were retrieved from the program Telegram, featuring messages from the user soliciting information from others to engage in the exchange of illicit content.
Numerous acronyms were discovered linking him to child sexual exploitation and abuse material.
The fiscal depute stated: “Additional conversations on Snapchat were discovered, and several linked the accused to child abuse material and the transmission of media files.” The contents of certain files are unknown due to expiration.
“The defendant expressed a preference for young girls and at one juncture remarked that he ‘loved young teenagers’.”
Upon his return to court for sentencing on January 28, with his face obscured by his jacket, defence solicitor Derek Pettigrew stated: “Regarding the report, I cannot emphasise enough his anxiety about the possibility of incarceration.”
Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart addressed the dock, stating: “Please remove that from your face.”
Mr. Pettigrew stated, “It is evident that some intervention is necessary going forward.”
I saw no advantage to detention; but, there is merit in my lady imposing an order against him. He acknowledges the necessity of being monitored within the community.
“Due to this offence, residing in the Dalmellington area will not be feasible for him; therefore, he must relocate, necessitating monitoring.”
Sheriff MacTaggart stated: “Mr. Webster, I face a stark decision regarding whether to remand you to custody or to the community.” Ultimately, I must prioritise public protection and contemplate providing you with support to resolve your offences, with the aim of preventing future transgressions.
The truth is that such an outcome is improbable to be realised by incarcerating you for the duration I could impose. My foremost priority is the protection of the community; therefore, you will be subjected to rigorous monitoring, and I am imposing the maximum sentence.”
He was subjected to a community payback order under supervision for three years and mandated to participate in the Moving Forward Making Changes program, which seeks to modify the behaviour of sex offenders.
He will remain on the sex offenders registry for three years.
He was subjected to a stringent sexual harm prevention order that limited his internet and social media usage for a duration of five years.
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