A paedophile who tried to arrange the rape of a 12-year-old girl in front of her mum told an appeals court that the jury did not get to hear about his mental health conditions.
Marc Stokes-Denson, formerly of The Close in Walton, was arrested over two-months' worth of sick conversations with what he thought was a woman called 'Becky', and her 12-year-old daughter 'Lizzie', on a website called Chat Avenue. In fact, the 45-year-old was speaking to undercover police officers and the mother and daughter did not exist.
During a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Stokes-Denson claimed he was in fact a paedophile hunter and continued the disgusting chats with 'Becky', who appeared to agree to help him abuse her daughter, because he was "concerned" and wanted to report her. However the jury heard he also made sexualised comments in a chat with what he thought was 'Lizzie'.
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The jury saw through his lies, and on July 6, 2021, he was convicted of arranging or facilitating sexual contact with a child and attempting to have a sexual communication with a child. Judge Anil Murray sentenced him to five and a half years in prison.
After his conviction, Stokes-Denson applied for leave to appeal both the conviction and his sentence. The pervert's lawyers argued that Judge Murray's decision to prevent the jury seeing a report by a forensic psychiatrist during the trial was unfair.
The report, by a Dr Ho, stated Stokes-Denson presented with features of an "adjustment disorder", a condition resulting from a "significant life-change or stressful event" - in the defendant's case the breakdown of his marriage.
The appeal judges heard the disorder can involve depression and anxiety, inability to cope or plan ahead, and interference with the ability to go about the sufferer's daily routine.
Dr Ho concluded: "It is therefore believable that the significant stress and depression experienced resulted in an adjustment disorder in [Stokes-Denson] contributing to him behaving in a manner where he was unlikely to consider fully the consequences of his actions. Whether this resulted in a lack of intent is a matter for the jury."
Stephen Tettey, defending, said the evidence could have influenced the jury's decision on whether his client was trying to catch a predator or abuse the child himself. However, the Court of Appeal judges said they agreed with the decision to exclude the report, as the jury's decision rested on whether Stokes-Denson held the intent to sexually abuse the child, rather than whether he had properly considered the consequences of his actions.
The judges also threw out an appeal against the length of the sentence, which Mr Tettey argued was "manifestly excessive". They noted that in his sentencing remarks Judge Murray described the paedophile as having a "deep-seated sexual attraction to children" and that he had shown "no remorse".
Judge Murray concluded that Stokes-Denson was a "dangerous offender" and posed a "danger of serious harm to children". The appeal court noted Judge Murray had made a "downwards adjustment" to the final sentence to reflect the fact there was no real child involved, and therefore the five and a half year prison term was not excessive.
During the trial, David Polglase, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Stokes-Denson had used the name 'KinkDomM_UK’ on Chat Avenue and ‘live:d***stokes’ on Skype. He used these accounts to "develop a relationship" with 'Becky' over a two-month period.
Stokes-Denson told her he was attracted to her 12-year-old daughter, ‘Lizzie’ and in vile chats spoke about the two of them sexually abusing the "child" together. Mr Polglase said: "On one specific day, ‘Becky’ allowed ‘Lizzie’ onto the computer to ‘chat’ with the defendant, and he engaged in sexual communication with ‘Lizzie'."
Stokes-Denson was arrested in September 2019, and in a police interview claimed he had reported "Becky to an online admin, despite being able to provide no evidence he had done so.
Mr Tettey, who also defended him during the trial, said at the sentencing hearing: "The defendant makes clear he is sorry for the position he places himself and his family in. He is ashamed of his conduct and realises the hardship which members of the jury must have endured in listening to a case of this nature."
However Judge Murray said: "You have shown not a shred of remorse." Stokes-Denson was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.
Speaking after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland, of Merseyside Police, said: "We’re pleased to see Stokes-Denson dealt with at court today after his plans to abuse a child. Unbeknownst to him, Stokes-Denson was speaking to an undercover officer, and he was swiftly arrested."
“We are absolutely committed to protecting children, from those who seek to cause them harm. Our Merseyside Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team works tirelessly and will use all available powers to identify offenders who pose a risk towards children and bring them to justice."
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