Entertainer Mark Whincup admits child abuse images and drugs charges

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30579938

Version 0 of 1.

A north Wales children's entertainer has pleaded guilty to a series of charges relating to child abuse images and drug offences.

Mark Whincup, 50, admitted 20 charges at Mold Crown Court on Monday.

Remanding him in custody, Judge Niclas Parry described it as a worrying case.

Whincup, who performed under the name 'Magic Mark', was told he will be sentenced in January.

As well as being a children's entertainer and magician, Whincup worked with the drug and alcohol agency, CAIS.

One campaign he was involved in was called "Don't Touch, Tell" - warning children of the dangers of drug needles.

Whincup, from Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy, pleaded guilty to four charges of distributing indecent images of child, nine charges of making indecent images of children, one charge of possessing 117 indecent images, and one charge of possessing 743 indecent movie images.

He also pleaded guilty to two charges involving possessing extreme images depicting sex acts between people and animals, and three charges of supplying the class A drug methamphetamine also known as crystal meth.

All the offences occurred between January 2012 and July 2014.