Man jailed for more than 18 years for abusing four teenage girls

A Met investigation into a man who sexually assaulted four teenage girls in Barking has seen him jailed for 18 and a half years.

Mark Franklin, 56 (10.03.68) of Westrow Drive, Barking was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 14 March. He has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

The investigation was launched in April 2024 when a 15-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by someone known to her.

Through building a rapport with the victim-survivor, officers discovered that Franklin had also abused three other girls.

On 22 October 2024 at the same court, 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
• 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.”

Between August 2023 and January 2024, Franklin sexually assaulted the four victim-survivors who were aged 15 and 16 when they visited his home. He would plie them with drugs and alcohol, and once they were inebriated, he would sexually assault them, often filming his actions.

He described the transformation when they took the drugs as ‘incredible’ and ‘absolutely breath taking’.

The court heard how Franklin attempted to minimise the abuse and said it was ‘just a bit of fun’.

Officers 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.

The Met are doing more to address violence against women and girls. Listening to victim-survivors, and working together with charities and partners across the criminal justice system, we’re working to ensure that all victims-survivors have the confidence to report these most awful crimes.

At the heart of our new approach in investigating rape, the Met have a greater focus on the suspect’s life, with a shift away from the ‘credibility’ of the victim-survivor. This means that the victim goes through a less invasive process when reporting an incident such as rape, which officers know is already an incredibly difficult time for them.