Paedophile couple who filmed baby sex abuse video jailed for 21 years

‘Mark Gable and Jessica Fry are dangerous and methodical paedophiles,’ says detective

Jessica Fry and Mark Gable, from Colchester, were jailed for a total of 21 years on 13 December 2019 after admitting a string of child sex abuse offences. (Essex Police)

A paedophile couple who filmed themselves sexually abusing children, including a baby, have been jailed for a total of 21 years.

Mark Gable, 33, was arrested in May after officers found a video of him sexually assaulting a baby during a search of his home.

A number of other images and videos were discovered which also showed Gable, of Edward Paxman Gardens, Colchester, sexually assaulting children.

Through their investigations, officers discovered that Gable’s girlfriend, 27 year-old Jessica Fry, had filmed the initial video as well as a number of the other images and videos.

They also found a video which showed Fry, also of Edward Paxman Gardens, sexually assaulting a child.

The offences are believed to have taken place between 2017 and 2019.

The pair were both charged and appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 2 September where they pleaded guilty to a string of offences.

Gable admitted to three counts of assault by penetration of a child, one count of sexual assault of a child, four counts of taking indecent images of children, and three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 11 and a half years followed by a further eight on licence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.

Fry, who was sentenced to 10 years, admitted to one count of assault by penetration of a child, one count of sexual assault of a child, three counts of taking indecent images of children, and two counts of distributing indecent images of children.

Gable has been considered a dangerous offender and will therefore have to serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for release.

They have both been put on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Jeanine Atkins-Calver, of Essex Police, said: “Mark Gable and Jessica Fry are dangerous and methodical paedophiles.

“Gable and Fry worked together to not only abuse very young children, but also documented that abuse for their own gratification.

“Their crimes are horrific. To subject anyone to sexual abuse is abhorrent but when that victim is so young it is unimaginable.

“They are a danger to the public and I am pleased they both now face a significant time behind bars.”

Detective Inspector Lisa Norcott added: “I would like to thank the families of the children involved and the strength they have shown throughout this distressing investigation.”

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS. Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and the The Survivors’ Trust supports people of any gender