January 2016

Paedophile who worked in nursery spared jail despite haul of extreme child abuse images

Major Minors nursery, in Bridge Road, Godalming

A West Drayton nursery worker has been spared jail, despite being in possession of thousands of child sexual abuse images, including sick photos showing anal rape.

Mark Curl, 55, of Bell Avenue, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of distributing indecent images of children at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday January 29.

As well as being a nurse at the Surrey nursery, Curl even babysat for children there, although none of the disturbing images found in his possession related to children at the nursery.

Curl was due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday November 6, for four counts of possession of indecent images of children, but this was delayed after a host of other images were discovered.

Curl pleaded guilty to possessing images ranging in severity, including more than a thousand still or moving Category A images – the most extreme kind – stored on his mobile phone, laptop and a memory card.

There were more than 10,000 images or videos of lower categories of child porn. Curl also shared two Category B indecent images of children by uploading them to the internet.

The first showed a girl aged between three and four holding an adult’s penis, and the second showed a naked girl, aged between five and six, with a naked man holding his penis close to her vagina.

It was the uploading of these images that led to police tracing Curl, at the home he shared with his mother.

Police entered his home with a search warrant and seized electronic items from his bedroom.

He was then arrested and cautioned at the nursery he worked in, Major Minors, a Busy Bees nursery in Godalming, on October 7 2015.

Upon his arrest he told police: “I’m going to prison aren’t I?

“I’ve never acted on anything and I’m left with children all the time – I would never abuse them.”

Police interviews found that his Samsung phone, where thousands of the images were stored, was kept in the staff room at the nursery.

Police asked if he had ever babysat for parents outside of work, to which he replied “yes”, as his SatNav was found with many addresses of parents.

Interviews revealed that police found a pair of young girl’s underwear in his bedroom.

Upon questioning, he explained: “It’s a fetish I suppose – I can separate masturbating from the job I do.”

However, police found no evidence to show any of the footage related to children from Major Minors nursery, to which Honour Judge Edmunds QC said: “I hope that this is of some comfort to parents of children from that nursery.”

In a second police interview, Curl gave ‘no comment’ responses.

Defence lawyer, Mr Burnham, gave Curl’s mitigating factors as there being only two images distributed, that he was of previous good character of 55 years and he provided full and frank co-operation during the police investigation as well as showing remorse.

Curl, a white, skinny, balding man, who appeared in the dock dressed in a maroon jumper, could be seen wailing and with his head in his hands as the evidence against him was read out.

Mr Burnham said this showed a man recognising he has a problem and “desperately wants help.”

He continued: “He’s a sad and lonely man who has never had a partner and lives with his mother.

“This man does not fit the profile that likely poses a risk to children.

Aggravating factors considered whilst sentencing, outlined by prosecutor Mr Stanton, were the high volume of content as well as the inclusion of moving images as well as still.

The Category A exhibits, 1,108 in total, contained images of children as young as two involved in penetration and anal rape.

The judge took into account the fact that Curl has been in custody since his arrest on October 9.

Curl was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, with the 12 counts served concurrently. However the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning if he does not commit further offences he will not be sent to prison. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order, must sign the Sex Offenders Register, and is now prohibited from working with children.

Upon sentencing Curl, Judge Edmunds said the images Curl was viewing showed children being “grossly and appallingly abused”.

He explained that he faced a dilemma between punishing Curl with prison or a giving a community sentence where he could receive treatment.

He told Curl: “You and others accessing these images creates the demand and you share in the responsibility for what happens to those children.

“The offences are so serious that nothing but a custodial sentence can be passed, but will be suspended so that your offending behaviour can be addressed.”

October 2015

Nursery nurse GUILTY of possessing indecent child images

A nursery has told parents that there is “no evidence” that indecent images found in the possession of a staff member were of children who attended the nursery.

Mark Curl, 55, of Bell Avenue in West Drayton, worked at Major Minors nursery, in Bridge Road, Godalming.

He was charged with four counts of possession of indecent images of children contrary section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 on Thursday (October 8).

The next day Curl pleaded guilty when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court and will now appear for sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday November 6.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “At this stage police do not believe the images involve children from the nursery.”

According to the nursery, Curl was questioned by officers on October 7, after they arrived unannounced on site.

A spokesman said: “We were first made aware of the situation on the afternoon of Wednesday October 7 when officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived unannounced at nursery to interview a member of staff.

“Since then the situation has been extremely fast moving, culminating in less than 48 hours later the accused having being arrested, charged, appeared in court and having entered guilty pleas to possession of indecent images.

“Our commitment is always to provide factually accurate and up to date information as soon as we can.

“We sent out our first parent letter on Friday afternoon as quickly as we could with as much information as was available.

“The nursery stayed open until 7pm and all parents were given a contact number in their letters of who to call should they have concerns or information regarding this investigation.

“We were told that parents who had strong concerns or relevant information could contact Surrey Children’s Services and we provided a telephone number that was given to us for this purpose.

“Our communication with parents is ongoing and we will keep them informed as and when we have any further information.”

Rachel Gurney, nursery manager, said: “All of the staff at the nursery are extremely upset at what has happened but the support of the parents has been amazing.

“A number have sent well wishes and even flowers for the team and I’d like to thank them for their ongoing support. It is really appreciated.

“Since we were first told about this we have all been working extremely hard to keep parent informed whilst continuing to care for children at our nursery.”

Major Minors is a Busy Bees nursery and regional manager Julie Molton said: “At this stage we have been advised that there is no evidence to suggest that we should be concerned for the welfare of our children in nursery however the investigation is ongoing and we must make sure that we do not compromise the work of the police.

“We will continue to keep staff and parents up to date with information as soon as we are able.”