‘Charming’ ex-prison officer is found GUILTY of raping five women and trying to rape sixth victim

A former prison officer has been convicted of raping five women and trying to sexually attack a sixth disabled victim. 

Mark Scott, 34, flashed a wry smile as a jury found him guilty of nine counts of rape and one attempted rape.

For more than a decade, the ex-HMP Hull employee would ‘charm’ his victims on nights out or seek them out through dating websites such as Plenty of Fish and Badoo.

The serial rapist – who was branded a ‘danger to women’ by the judge – appeared at Hull Crown Court today to hear the outcome of his seven-week trial.

During the trial the court heard how Scott would appear ‘charming, good fun and attractive’, but that his personality would turn ugly as he moved to ‘satisfy his own sexual desire or needs’.  

One of Scott’s alleged victims gave evidence throughout the lengthy trial, saying she tried to bury what happened as ‘there’s a lot I don’t want to remember’.

Scott also gave evidence in his defence, telling the court that he denied it was a ‘massive coincidence’ that multiple women had given remarkably similar allegations against him.

For more than a decade, the ex-HMP Hull (stock image) employee would ‘charm’ his victims on nights out or seek them out through dating websites such as Plenty of Fish and Badoo

But it took the jury just over a day of deliberations to deliver its guilty verdict for the charges brought against Scott for sexual assaults between 2005 and 2018.

He had denied multiple counts of rape and attempted rape and was convicted of each of them except two rape charges against one victim.

As the verdicts were read, Scott shook his head and smiled wryly before he was handcuffed and removed from court and into custody.

As he was being led away, he spoke in a feint and faltering voice to a man in the public gallery, saying ‘I’ll ring you’ while holding an imaginary phone to his ear. 

Scott flashed a wry smile as a jury found him guilty of nine counts of rape and one attempted rape at Hull Crown Court (pictured)

The man replied ‘I love you’ before Scott appeared to collapse before being removed.  

Scott has been remanded in custody and will now be assessed for dangerousness.

Trial judge Recorder Ben Nolan QC said he believes Scott ‘is a danger to women’ but will await the conclusion of a report by the probation service.

Scott will be sentenced in the week commencing June 24.

Jurors who heard the seven-week case have been excused any further jury service for ten years.