February 2014
Derby child abuse pictures charge man says his family set him up
A BATHROOM fitter who was previously convicted of sexual grooming is now accused of downloading indecent pseudo-photographs of children but claims his family has set him up.
Mark Rayworth, who is now on trial for having the images, is also charged with having extreme pornography and attempting to communicate by text with a girl under the age of 16, which he is banned from doing.
When the 45-year-old, of Inglewood Avenue, Mickleover, was convicted in March 2012 of sexually grooming a 15-year-old girl, an order was imposed on him which prohibited him from making contact with any girl under 16 using an electronic device.
Rayworth, of Wren Way, Mickleover, admitted the sexual grooming of a girl. He had no previous convictions.
He was put on probation for three years and must attend a sex offenders group work programme.
Rayworth denies all the NEW charges.
His defence is that his family have “set him up” because they were disgusted with him and felt they had been abandoned.
But his daughter, crying in the witness stand at
Derby Crown Court yesterday, told a jury: “I would never do that.”
Rayworth was arrested after his 21-year-old daughter Louise said she found two mobile phones in a drawer in her bedroom, where her dad had been sleeping.
One of the phones contained texts such as “I’m only 12″ and “I’m only 15, find someone else to perv on”.
Louise handed in the phones to the police and officers seized two laptops.
They discovered more than 300 indecent pseudo-photographs of children and 29 extreme pornographic images.
Rayworth’s lawyer, Clive Stockwell, put to Louise that because of a combination of things – her dad not buying her a car, his conviction and him being preoccupied with a new relationship – had led to resentment.
Mr Stockwell said: “I suggest that because of what had gone on, you hated him.”
Miss Rayworth replied: “No, I don’t hate him at all and I still don’t now.”
Mr Stockwell said: “I suggest as a group, all three of you (ex-wife, daughter and son) were resentful towards him.”
She replied: “It was obviously upsetting but we weren’t resentful towards him at all.”
She said she had come to court to give evidence, “because it’s just not right. The person sat there is just not my dad.”
Rayworth’s 20-year marriage to Catherine broke down following the criminal investigation of the sexual grooming offence.
Yesterday, Mr Stockwell put to Catherine Rayworth: “I suggest what this is, together with either or both of your children, is to get back at Mr Rayworth for him ruining your life.”
“No,” replied Mrs Rayworth.
The trial continues.
March 2012
‘I’m not a prostitute,’ girl of 15 tells man offering £100 for sex
AN internet pest offered £100 for a one-night stand with a 15-year-old girl, who texted back “I am not a prostitute”, a court heard.
Mark Rayworth, 43, had made contact via Facebook, claiming he was “only 37″, and eventually met her at the McDonald’s restaurant in Allenton on October 20.
She went with two friends and the meeting took at least 90 minutes but “there was no physical contact”, said Martin Hirst, prosecuting at Derby Crown Court.
Rayworth bought drinks and ice cream as well as giving the girl £30 and 20 cigarettes during the meeting.
“The next day, she received text messages.
“He said he would give her £100 for sex.
“He said ‘Can’t get you out of my head. You are well fit’.”
After he offered her £100 for a “one-night stand”, the girl texted back: “I am not a prostitute”. She had already told Rayworth she had a boyfriend and was “happy”.
Mr Hirst said Rayworth was arrested on October 28.
“He tried to laugh it off, saying it was all a bit of banter.
“The girl distinctly remembers telling her age.
“He offered to take her out to buy cigarettes and alcohol and offered to take her out for a drink.
“She reminded him that she was still at school,” said Mr Hirst.
Rayworth, of Wren Way, Mickleover, admitted the sexual grooming of a girl. He had no previous convictions.
He was put on probation for three years and must attend a sex offenders group work programme.
Recorder Michael Elsom said immediate prison would not allow Rayworth the chance of treatment.
“You need some degree of education and retraining to make sure you are not taken to behave in this way again when your life has dealt you a bad set,” he told Rayworth, who was put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
He was banned from using the internet and messaging services to contact any girl under 16.
Clive Stockwell, in mitigation, said Rayworth had financial problems and his relationship had broken down at the time of the offence.
“He was emotionally overwrought and in a place where he found himself drinking too much and was lonely,” Mr Stockwell told the court.
“The defendant was trying to seduce the complainant.
