Paedophile jailed after posting child abuse online

A paedophile who committed a string of "revolting" sexual offences against children has been jailed for 19 years.

Mark Manship, 39, of Cardiff, was convicted of raping, sexually assaulting and sharing indecent images of a young girl from Bristol online.

During sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, he was made subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restraining orders and was added to the sex offenders register.

Det Con Elizabeth Howell described Manship as a "manipulative man who committed truly abhorrent crimes to fuel his own grotesque sexual desires".

The court was told of the significant impact of his crimes which "continue to echo through every part" of his two victims' lives.

Sentencing Manship to 19 years in prison, with an extended licence period of eight years, the judge said: "The facts of this case are extremely distressing.

"They are nothing short of revolting or horrific."

Manship was caught after exchanging sexually explicit messages describing child abuse, as well as indecent images of children, with an undercover FBI agent in December 2020, the court was told.

He was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police and a search of his devices uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children.

Manship was charged with one count of rape of a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, two counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child, and one count of making indecent photographs of a child.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Bristol Crown Court in May.

Det Con Howell commended the two victims for their bravery.

"He took advantage of very young girls and shared his horrific abuse of one of them online - giving absolutely no thought to their wellbeing or the devastating long-term effects his crimes will have on them and their families," she said.

"I'm very pleased they have been able to see him handed a significant prison sentence today."

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