Paedophile jailed indefinitely after drugging and raping children (From Daily Echo)

Attacker lured youngsters after playground meeting

12:11pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

A paedophile who drugged and raped three young children during a six hour ordeal has been locked up indefinitely.

Darren Mackrell fed cannabis, amphetamines and Viagra to the two boys and a girl all aged under 10 before forcing them into sexual activity with himself and each other.

The 45-year-old told the youngsters he would kill them if they tried to leave his Southampton flat or told anyone about what he did to them.

He had lured the youngsters to his flat after previously meeting one at a nearby playground.

Having drugged them he made them watch hardcore pornography before sexually touching and raping all three.

Today at Winchester Crown Court a judge told Mackrell, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton, that his behaviour “plumbed the depth of human depravity”.

Judge Gary Burrell QC said: “Because they were so drugged you were in effect able to do with them whatever you wanted.”

He ordered unemployed Mackrell to be locked up indefinitely because of the risk he poses to other children.

The judge said: “There is no room for mercy Darren Mackrell in a case as horrific as this. What you did for these children was truly dreadful. You provided a reality to every parent’s nightmare.

“It will be ten years before you can apply for parole. That doesn’t mean you will be released after ten years. It may well be a much longer period before you are released, if at all.”

The court heard how on April 21 this year the two boys went to Mackrell’s flat where they were later joined by the little girl. The mother of one of the children became worried she had not seen him for several hours and called police.

After talking to youngsters in a nearby park she went to Mackrell’s flat but got no answer.

When police arrived an officer again got no answer but looked through the letter box and saw the X-rated footage playing on the TV.

He attempted to kick down the door until one of the frightened youngsters inside was able to open it and all three fled the flat.

The court heard how all three children had been severely traumatised by their ordeal.

One of the boys has talked openly about committing suicide and self harmed.

While the little girl, who has still to talk about what happened to her, has become withdrawn and frightened of men.

Judge Burrell sentenced Mackrell to 15 years concurrently for three counts of rape. He also added five years concurrently for three counts of forcing the youngsters to engage in sexual activity, which was to run consecutive to the rape sentence.

He sentenced him to a further eight years for three counts of drugging the children and sexually assaulting them and a further year for three counts of administering a drug with intent to stupefy or overpower them.

The judge added no additional penalty for offences of criminal damage and possessing a bladed article relating to a separate incident on April 9.