May 2006

Man has sexual activity with child 

A 49-year-old man who had sexual intercourse with a schoolgirl in the back of his work van after picking her up from school.

Mark Duncan Harmer befriended the girl months earlier at a social event and groomed her via mobile phone and computer

They initially arranged to go to the cinema but Harmer instead took her back to his house, while his partner was out, where they had sex.

A month later, he picked her up at school and they again had sex. This time in the back of his van, which was parked on recreation ground.

Harmer of main street, Kirkby Mallory was found out after a teacher at the girls school heard about their meetings. 

He was sentenced to a community rehabilitation order with a condition to attend a sex offender programme

He admitted two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity