Carl Marland: ex-pub landlord who travelled to Manchester to abuse young girls is jailed for 21 years

Police said Carl Marland ‘stole the childhoods’ of his victims.
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A vile former pub landlord who travelled to Manchester from London to carry out a string of sexual offences on young girls has been put behind bars.

Predatory Carl Marland was jailed for 21 years after Manchester Crown Court heard how he groomed and then sexually assaulted four girls.

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He was jailed for a long list of more than 20 crimes including rape of a child under 13 and sexual activity with children.

Following his sentencing on Tuesday (24 May) Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Marland had stolen the childhoods of his victims and paid tribute to their bravery.

Carl Marland groomed and then sexually abused four young girls in ManchesterCarl Marland groomed and then sexually abused four young girls in Manchester
Carl Marland groomed and then sexually abused four young girls in Manchester

What has Carl Marland been jailed for?

Marland, 58, was found guilty at trial of the following offences:

  • Causing a child to watch a sexual act
  • Five cases of sexual assault of a child under 13
  • Three counts of rape of a child under 13
  • Assault of a child by penetration
  • Two counts of voyeurism
  • Two cases of making indecent images of a child
  • Three counts of sexual activity with a child
  • Engaging with sexual communication with a child
  • Two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
  • Three counts of supplying class B drugs
  • Supplying class C drug.

What happened in court?

Manchester Crown Court heard how Marland would travel to Manchester from London, where he ran a pub, most weeks from June 2020 to December 2020 to visit the girls and their families to carry out his attacks.

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He would groom the girls, who were aged between eight and 16, giving them gifts of clothes and money as well as drugs and alcohol.

Marland set up a bank account for one of the girls and transferred around £3,000 to her, and would drive the girls around in his car, where much of the abuse took place.

He also secretly filmed one of the girls as she undressed.

Police became aware of Marland when one of the girls’ mothers found inappropriate messages from him on her phone in November 2020.

Detectives from GMP Rochdale’s child sexual exploitation team worked closely with officers from the Metropolitan Police to co-ordinate Marland’s arrest on 27 January 2021.

What has been said following Marland’s sentencing?

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Detective Constable Andrew Sanderson, from GMP’s child sexual exploitation team, said: “Marland spent the majority of 2020 travelling from London to Manchester in order to commit these offences, some of which are the most serious offences against children.

“These crimes have had a huge detrimental impact on his victims and their families, and he has essentially stolen their childhoods.

“I would like to praise the victims’ bravery in reporting these crimes. Hopefully following this sentencing they can have some closure and begin to move on and rebuild their lives.”

How you can get help

Following Marland’s sentencing GMP has urged victims of sexual offences to report them to the police or a support agency so they can get support.

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Organisations in Greater Manchester which can help victims include:

Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, which provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within the city-region. It offers forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

Greater Manchester Rape Crisis, which is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected]

Survivors Manchester, which provides specialist trauma-informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call them on 0161 236 2182.

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