A 'determined and manipulative' paedophile, Mark Lee, messaged the mother of a young teenager to reveal his sexual orientation after grooming him online.

Police discovered Lee was already under investigation for offences related to another boy (Boy 1) when they found incriminating photos of a second victim (Boy 2) on his phone, which included videos with the caption 'Mine'. To protect their identities, both victims are referred to as 'Boy 1' and 'Boy 2' for life.

During the court proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, it was revealed that 21-year-old Lee had contacted Boy 2's mother via Facebook, following the youth's attempt to end their relationship. Lee falsely claimed to be 17 years old and admitted to meeting Boy 2 in person.

It became evident to Boy 2’s mother that Lee had been grooming her son only when police visited her home to detail Lee's actions.

In her victim personal statement, she shared that her son had displayed signs of being gay from a young age, and she had been patiently waiting for him to come out to her when he felt ready. She wept as she said, “He had this taken away from him, to tell me he was gay, because Mark Lee told me about their relationship. All I ever wanted to do was to protect my son and I couldn't.”

Mum's Suspicions Arise

In February last year, Boy 1's mother picked him and some friends up from a cinema, where discussions about his relationship with his boyfriend arose. She suspected something was amiss after observing her son's boyfriend appeared older than his claimed age of 17.

After finding an Instagram account revealing Lee’s identity as a DJ, the mother confronted him. Lee downplayed their relationship, claiming they only flirted. However, further investigation revealed explicit messages and indecent images exchanged between Lee and Boy 2.

Further analysis of Boy 2's phone unveiled a disturbing pattern: Lee had visited Boy 2’s home, and police later found 11 indecent images of children on Lee's devices in addition to internet searches related to child pornography.

During a search of Lee's phone in May 2023, investigators discovered that he had created a chatroom profile indicating an interest in 13-year-olds while posing as a 15-year-old. The police also found a screenshot of a TikTok profile belonging to a young teenager.

Boy 2 confirmed to the police that he and Lee had met in person and had attempted to discuss a hotel stay, which did not transpire as he felt unprepared, despite Lee's continued deceit about his age.

Disturbingly, Boy 2 recounted that after their relationship ended, Lee pursued him relentlessly across various platforms, even contacting his mother on Facebook.

Lee had a prior conviction related to indecent images of children and was under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court learned that Lee previously received a suspended sentence and was prohibited from contacting anyone under 18.

The Impact on Families

As both mothers provided statements in court, the impact of Lee's actions was emotionally evident. Boy 1's mother expressed the strain this ordeal has placed on their relationship, while Boy 2's mother recounted her shock upon receiving a Facebook message from Lee, claiming it turned her life upside down.

She detailed the manipulative tactics Lee employed to gain her trust and her son's secrecy about their relationship. “It was all a huge lie, he was in his 20s and he was grooming my son,” she stated tearfully.

Mitigating factors presented by Lee’s counsel suggested that he had developed a dependence on messaging apps, but Judge Conrad rejected this explanation, emphasizing Lee's manipulative behavior.

In sentencing, Judge Alan Conrad KC labeled Lee as a dangerous offender who targets vulnerable children, stating he was convinced Lee posed a significant threat to society.

Lee was sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional three years on licence, and must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before the Parole Board evaluates his eligibility for release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Lee pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including creating indecent photographs of children, sexually communicating with a child, and meeting a child following sexual grooming.

A Call for Vigilance

Following the case, GMP’s Sex Offender Management Unit highlighted the importance of effectively managing sex offenders in the community. Orla Lynch remarked on Lee's deliberate disregard for his previous conviction and the serious consequences of his actions on the victims. The focus remains on protecting children and ensuring their safety from threats like Lee.