Locations
Kielder, Northumberland, NE48
Description
A "cruel" and cowardly child molester who domestically abused his partner and stalked her after their breakup has been jailed for 11 years.
Mark Harvey, 42, from Kielder in Northumberland, sexually abused two girls and regularly attacked and threatened his partner during their 16-year relationship, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Originally from Blackpool, Harvey met her online around 2007 and moved in with her on Tyneside soon after, prosecutor Vincent Ward said.
He hit her on hidden body parts to conceal bruises, verbally abused and threatened her—saying he would "fight her to the death" and "chop her up"—accused her of cheating while sleeping with others, controlled her clothing and makeup, and isolated her from friends and family.
The court heard Harvey also used violence against children and kicked and hit the family's dogs.
After she ended the relationship in July 2023 upon learning of his child sex offences, Harvey stalked her by sending a phone and tablet with tracking and CCTV apps, unwanted gifts, logging into her social media, and mailing letters from prison under another inmate's name to evade security.
Harvey admitted 11 offences, including sexual activity with a child under 13, stalking, and controlling or coercive behaviour. He had prior convictions for benefit fraud in 2012.
In her statement, his ex-partner said he ruined her life, the abuse was all she knew for 16 years, and she still lives in fear, unable to rebuild. One molested girl called him "cruel" and reported repeated flashbacks and panic attacks.
Harvey initially denied many charges, absconded, and was arrested in Manchester in February 2025 before pleading guilty on the trial's second day.
Judge Thomas Moran described Harvey's sexual urges toward children as "uncontrollable," calling him "opportunistic and cruel." He noted the ex-partner's severe impact and one child's "severe psychological harm," adding Harvey lacked "the courage to accept what you did," sought to discredit his "courageous" victims, and his denial of child sexual interest was "plainly a lie."
Assessed as high risk to children and partners, Harvey was deemed dangerous: he must serve four years on extended licence, sign the sex offenders register for life, and comply with a 20-year sexual harm prevention order.