A man has been jailed for over 18 years after sexually assaulting four teenage girls in Barking.
Mark Franklin, 56, of Westrow Drive, Barking, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday. He has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
A police investigation was launched in April 2024 after a 15-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by someone known to her.
Officers then discovered that Franklin had also abused three other girls.
Franklin sexually assaulted the four victim-survivors who were aged 15 and 16 when they visited his home between August 2023 and January 2024.
He would plie them with drugs and alcohol, and once they were inebriated, he would sexually assault them, often filming his actions, the Met Police explained.
The court heard how Franklin described the transformation when they took the drugs as “incredible” and “absolutely breath taking”.
Franklin also attempted to minimise the abuse and said it was “just a bit of fun”.
Scotland Yard also uncovered extensive messages where Franklin confessed his love for one victim-survivor, telling her he had a secret crush on her and how beautiful he thought she was.
In October, 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 and 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.”
