Former pub landlord jailed for 21 years for series of sex assaults on four girls

A former pub landlord has been jailed for 21 years after carrying out a series of sexual assaults on four young girls he had groomed.

Carl Marland (11/01/1964), of The Chequers pub, Ilford, London, was convicted of more than 20 offences in October 2021 after a trial at Manchester Crown Court and jailed yesterday (24 May 2022).

Among the charges he was found guilty of were three counts of rape and secretly filming one of the girls while she undressed.

Marland would travel to Manchester from London, where he ran a pub, most weeks from June 2020 to December 2020 to visit the girls - aged from eight to 16 - to carry out his attacks.

He would groom the girls, 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.

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.

In total, Marland was found guilty of the following offences:

• Causing a child to watch a sexual act
• Sexual assault of a child under 13 x5
• Rape of a child under 13 x3
• Assault of a child by penetration
• Voyeurism x2
• Making indecent images of a child x2
• Sexual activity with a child x3
• Engaging with sexual communication with a child
• Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity x3
• Supplying class B drugs x3
• Supplying class C drugs

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."

Where to get help

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer 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 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 provides specialist trauma informed support to boys and men in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.