A paedophile who sexually abused a 13-year-old has been jailed after being described by a judge as a danger to teenage boys.
Mark Heyes, who had twice previously been jailed for sexual assaults on boys, targeted his victim after the lad advertised items for sale on an internet site.
Recorder Martin Hurst, passing sentence at Lincoln Crown Court, told Heyes: “In my judgement you are a determined, persistent, guileful, cynical and predatory paedophile.
“You have shown no remorse and you have shown no regret.
“You have shown no insight into the offences you commit or of the risk you pose to boys.
“It is perfectly plain to me that you pose a very significant danger in the future to young teenage boys.”
Heyes, 51, of Festival Avenue, Ingoldmells, was given a nine year custodial sentence with a five year licence extension.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
He admitted causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two charges of breach of a previous sexual offences prevention order and a further two charges of failing to notify the authorities of details as required as part of his sex offenders’ registration.
Esther Harrison, prosecuting, said that Heyes turned up at the home of his victim in March 2017 in response to an advert placed by the boy to sell toy cars.
When Heyes arrived he found the boy had other items for sale. In discussions that followed Heyes offered the lad a job but was told by the boy’s step-mother that it was inappropriate because of his age.
Later a family member contacted Heyes warning him not to make further contact with the boy.
Soon afterwards the boy’s family became aware he suddenly had a lot more money than he should have and then it was discovered the lad had offered a friend the chance to earn money from sexual encounters.
Police were contacted and investigations revealed that Heyes met up with the 13-year-old.
The first time he took him to Weelsby Woods in Grimsby.
On another occasion he took the boy to his home at Ingoldmells and forced him to perform a sexual act paying him £50.
Miss Harrison said: “There was planning and there was grooming. There was also, to a degree, threats.”
She added that Heyes was at the time being monitored by the authorities because of his previous offences but managed to conceal the fact that he had moved from Bradford to Ingoldmells.
The court was told that Hayes was convicted of gross indecency with a child in 1987 and then in 1993 was jailed for three years at Bradford Crown Court for indecent assaults on a young boy.
He was subsequently jailed for five years in 1996 for child abduction and received a further three years at Sheffield Crown Court in 2003 for indecent assault on a boy.
Then in 2012 he was jailed for 30 months at Derby Crown Court for breach of a sexual offences prevention order.
Thomas Stanway, in mitigation, said that Heyes had not been looking for contact with young boys and only realised the latest victim’s age when he met him.
Detective Constable Angie Hatton of Lincolnshire Police said: “After the initial report came through to us from colleagues at Humberside Police, the Central Referal Unit were able to identify Heyes as a suspect.
“The investigation has involved excellent teamwork from a number of departments, including the Digital Forensics Unit, Child Sexual Exploitation team and the Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders team, and resulted in Heyes facing 10 charges.
“I would like to thank the victim and his family for their trust and courage and I hope the substantial sentence helps them to move forward with their lives.”
An NSPCC spokesman said: “Heyes is a dangerous individual who targeted a young boy to carry out sickening abuse.
“This is yet another example of predatory offenders using the internet to abuse children. It is therefore vital that parents speak to their children about these dangers and about how to stay safe online.
“Online safety is one of the biggest child protection challenges we face and law enforcement, government and web providers must do more to protect young people using the internet.”
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.