Mark Franklin, 56, of Westrow Drive described the sexual assault of four girls aged 15 and 16 as “just a bit of fun”.
He was jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court today (March 14) for 18 and a half years and placed on the sex offender’s register for life.
A police investigation was launched in April 2024 when a 15-year-old girl reported she had been sexually assaulted by someone she knew.
By building a relationship with the victim, officers found out that Franklin had also abused three other girls.
Between August 2023 and January 2024, Franklin sexually assaulted the four teenagers aged 15 and 16 when they visited his home.
He would ply them with drugs and alcohol, and once they were inebriated he would sexually assault them, often filming his actions.
He described the transformation when they took the drugs as “incredible” and “absolutely breathtaking”.
The court heard how Franklin attempted to minimise the abuse and said it was “just a bit of fun”.(Image: Google)
Officers also uncovered extensive messages where Franklin confessed his love for one girl, telling her he had a secret crush on her and how beautiful he thought she was.
On October 22, 2024, at the same court, Franklin was unanimously found guilty 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.
“Throughout the entire investigation, Franklin showed absolutely no remorse.
“He was so comfortable in his offending that even after he filmed the horrific assaults, he never believed he would be caught.
“The young victim-survivors have shown remarkable bravery throughout this process, their strength and willingness to work with us has been vital in securing his conviction.
“I want to thank them for their trust in the police and for their resilience during such a distressing time.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The Met are doing more to address violence against women and girls.
“Listening to victim-survivors, and working together with charities and partners across the criminal justice system, we’re working to ensure that all victims-survivors have the confidence to report these most awful crimes.
“At the heart of our new approach in investigating rape, the Met have a greater focus on the suspect’s life, with a shift away from the ‘credibility’ of the victim-survivor.
“This means that the victim goes through a less invasive process when reporting an incident such as rape, which officers know is already an incredibly difficult time for them.”
