January 2015

Children’s entertainer jailed after being caught with ‘S&M dungeon’ of indecent images

A disgraced children’s entertainer and magician has been jailed after being caught with depraved images of youngsters and for drug dealing crystal meth

Mark Whincup, 51, a well-known North Wales entertainer known as “Magic Mark” cried throughout most of the sentencing hearing on Thursday, as the court heard how he had taken a similarly perverted American friend into schools with him.

Mold Crown Court heard that police found 121 indecent images and 748 films, together with 10 “extreme” indecent images involving animals on computer equipment in the attic of his home.

Prosecutor David Mainstone described the store as an “S&M dungeon” complete with sex toys, bondage equipment, computers and a camcorder.

His vile double life saw him addicted to crystal meth – while being employed by the drugs agency CAIS to lecture children about the dangers of drugs.

Police who seized the material from his home in Rhos-on-Sea found films of himself having sex with two other men and injecting them with the Class A drug.

He also took part in computer video conferencing with two other men as he distributed perverted images.

And the court heard how he even took a like-minded man from the US to schools, passing him off as work experience, for the American to watch him working with children.

But it was stressed that while the case would send shockwaves among parents of children, he had not offended against any of the children he had come into contact with.

He admitted making indecent images and films by downloading them from the internet, distributing some of them via Skype and other media, and supplying crystal meth.

Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed him for a total of two years, ordered him to register as a sex offender for 10 years and made him subject to a 10-year Sex Offender Prevention Order.

Whincup, of Ebberston Road East, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, was told by the judge that because of his own depravity he had lost his career, his livelihood and reputation.

But that was nothing compared to what the children who had been abused in the films went through.

“This was depraved behaviour on your part. You repeatedly sought out dreadful images, stored them and distributed them, and you shared class A drugs with others while doing so,” he said.

He had taken and given crystal meth to take away all inhibitions in order to feed that depravity.

At times he was not only watching indecent images with others but injecting others with crystal meths in the attic which had been converted to facilitate his depraved behaviour.

Judge Rowlands took into account Whincup’s guilty pleas and the references written on his behalf, but questioned whether those who had written them knew the details of what he had done.

Refering to Whincup’s actions in taken another pervert into schools, Judge Rowlands said: “If you were a parent of one of those children, now knowing the nature of the man, and taking another man with him around schools, it would make you incandescent.”

He took into account his guilty pleas and the fact that the defendant was ashamed and horrified at the depths he himself had fallen to.

But following an assessment he had decided not to deal with him as a dangerous offender.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, said that Whincup worked with CAIS, the drug and alcohol agency, especially on a project entitled “Don’t Touch, Tell”, warning children of the dangers of needles.

The entertainer, also appeared in local pantomimes and gave magic displays at children’s birthday parties, and schools.

Ceri Evans, defending, said that her client appreciated that he had led a double life. But he kept what he did in the day and what he did in the privacy of his own home distinct and separate.

His arrest was described as both the “worst and best day of his life” – and now he was no longer addicted to drugs appreciated the seriousness of what he had done and was glad it was over.

He recognised that while he had not been offending against the children he came into contact with, his case would send shockwaves among parents and staff.

Whincup admitted a total of 20 charges – four charges of distributing indecent images of a child, nine charges of making indecent images of children, one charge of possessing 117 indecent images and one charge of possessing 743 indecent movie images; two charges involved possessing extreme images involving animals, and three charges of supply the class A drug methamphetamine, known as crystal meth.

All the offences occurred between January 2012 and July of last year.

At an earlier hearing in the magistrates’ court it was stressed that none of the images were of children with whom he had come into contact in his work as an entertainer.

December 2014

Disgraced children’s entertainer admits making and sharing indecent images of kids, and dealing crystal meth

A children’s entertainer who once fronted a drugs awareness campaign has admitted making and sharing indecent images of youngsters and dealing crystal meth.

Mark Whincup, 50, who went by the stage name “Magic Mark”, wept in a crown court dock as he pleaded guilty to a total of 20 charges.

Judge Niclas Parry described it as a worrying case in view of what he had admitted in interview and the use of drugs.

The judge asked that Whincup’s future dangerousness be carefully assessed and remanded him in custody to be sentenced in January.

In addition to being a children’s entertainer and magician, Whincup, of Ebberston Road East, Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, worked with CAIS, the drug and alcohol agency, especially on a project entitled “Don’t Touch, Tell”, warning children of the dangers of needles.

The entertainer, who first made a name for himself as a schoolboy, has appeared in local pantomimes including those at Theatr Colwyn and gave magic displays at children’s birthday parties, and schools.

Whincup initially appeared at Mold Crown Court on Monday morning for a preliminary hearing but Ceri Evans, defending, asked for more time and said that discussions were taking place between the prosecution and the defence.

He returned to court in the afternoon and admitted a total of 20 charges: four charges of distributing indecent images of child; nine charges of making indecent images of children; one charge of possessing 117 indecent images; and one charge of possessing 743 indecent movie images; two charges involved possessing “extreme” images; and three charges of supply of the class A drug methamphetamine, known as crystal meth.

All the offences occurred between January 2012 and July this year.

At an earlier hearing in the magistrates’ court it was stressed that none of the images were of children with whom he had come into contact in his work as an entertainer.

Miss Evans said that her client had been in custody since his arrest on December 4 and she did not apply for bail.

She said that the defendant was aware of the sentencing guidelines for such offending, in particular the distribution offences, but asked that a pre-sentence report should be prepared.

Judge Parry said he agreed.

“Having read what I have read, there should be careful consideration given to the assessment of dangerousness,” he said.

“I know the prosecution will ensure that the probation service is give all the papers in the case, including the interview.

“I say no more at this stage but it is clearly a worrying aspect given what was said in interview, and the use of drugs.”

It was, he said, a sensitive case and he was grateful to prosecutor David Mainstone and to Miss Evans for the work which had been done to ensure that progress could be made.

Judge Parry told the defendant he would receive maximum credit in sentencing for pleading guilty at such an early stage which followed the admissions he had made in police interview.

At the time of the defendant’s arrest North Wales Police issued a statement in which it said there would be understandable public concern about the case.

“The defendant is a well-known local children’s entertainer who has worked across North Wales for years,” the police statement said.

It was understood the case would cause concern but none of the images were obtained during the course of his work.

Police said that if anyone had concerns or wanted further information they could phone North Wales Police on 101 or for advice on how to combat Child Sexual Exploitation visit http://www.themoreyouknow.org.uk