Magician jailed for 14 years for abusing boys

A magician has been jailed after raping a boy and indecently assaulting two others.

Mark Davis, also known by his stage name Mark Major, abused the trio during the 1980s and 1990s.
Cardiff Crown Court heard he befriended the youngsters before grooming them with his magic tricks.

The 55-year-old, who used to live in Llanedeyrn before moving to Corby in Northamptonshire, had denied any wrongdoing.

But a jury took little over a day to convict him of three counts of rape, nine of indecent assault and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

In the prosecution’s opening of the case, barrister Janet McDonald described Davis as a sexual predator “clothed in an aura of respectability”.

She said: “Davis was nice to the boys and their mothers. He showed them tricks and autographs he had of famous people.

“It was subtle and gentle persuasion and grooming.”

Judge Jonathan Furness QC sentenced Davis to 14 years in prison and said the defendant would also be banned from ever working with children upon release.

South Wales Police Detective Inspector Dan Michel said Davis’ victims had shown tremendous courage in coming forward.

He said: “Mark Richard Davis abused both his links to a number of youth organisations across the UK and his position of trust as a children’s entertainer.

“The sentence handed down shows the seriousness of Davis’ offences and the devastating effect he had on his victims.

“We know reporting crimes of this nature can be difficult, but we would urge anyone who has been a victim to report it to us, you will be supported.”