Ex-Radio Star Jailed for Sick Child Sex Crimes in Philippines
Mark Page, 63, former Radio 1 DJ and Middlesbrough FC stadium announcer, has been found guilty of four horrific child sex offences. The Ingleby Barwick man used webcams and travelled to the Philippines to target vulnerable children, exploiting their poverty and desperation.
Vile Crimes Spanning Years Uncovered
At Teesside Crown Court, the jury convicted Page of arranging child sex offences using a webcam in 2016 and committing abuse during trips to the Philippines in 2016 and 2019. He preyed on children as young as 12 and 13, even trying to bargain over prices for sexual acts.
One victim, a 13-year-old waitress from a large, fatherless family, has since been found and placed in safe care. The court heard how Page shamelessly exploited children trapped in poverty and forced into prostitution.
Judge Brands Page the “Very Embodiment of Depravity”
“You took advantage of poverty and deprivation in an underdeveloped country,” said Judge Paul Watson QC. “It did not matter to you that you were robbing them of their childhood innocence or causing long-term trauma. You delighted in their humiliation for your own corrupt sexual satisfaction.”
The judge imposed a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order to keep Page away from potential victims forever.
Police Reveal Page’s Sham Defence
After Facebook monitors flagged suspicions, officers seized his phone, tablet, and computer in 2020. Page claimed his devices were hacked but refused to explain or cooperate during interviews, giving only “no comment” responses.
Det Sgt Kevin Carter said: “Page refused to accept responsibility and blamed everyone but himself. He tried to maintain a respectable image, but his actions betrayed everyone who trusted him—including his own family.”
Cleveland Police’s specialist paedophile team added his imprisonment would make children safer and serve as a harsh warning to other predators.
Philippine Child Prostitution Crisis Spotlighted
Prosecutor Jo Kidd highlighted the staggering problem, revealing an estimated 60,000 Filipino children are forced into prostitution. The COVID lockdown only deepened the “crippling poverty” fueling these abuses.
Mark Page’s case exposes a grim underworld of exploitation that must be stopped.
