A former Perth DJ has been convicted of arranging to have sex with children as young as 12 in the Philippines.
Mark Page, who was the face of Perth FM in the early 2000s, even tried to bargain down the price for a sexual encounter with a girl aged 12 and a boy of 13, saying 3,000 pesos – around £44 at today’s exchange rate – was too much.
The disgraced DJ – a Radio 1 presenter in the 1980s – had a lengthy career in broadcasting and set up a successful radio station for the British Army
He used frequent business trips to the Philippines, as well as charity work, as a cover for his perverted interest in underage sex.
The 63-year-old divorced father-of-three was convicted of four out of five counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The jury cleared him of one of the charges.
Two of these offences were committed remotely from the UK in 2016, while two happened in the Philippines on separate trips made by Page in 2016 and 2019.
Police alerted by Facebook
Facebook alerted a charity following concerns raised about messaging on its platform.
The charity informed UK law enforcement and Cleveland Police executed a search warrant at his home in January 2020.
Analysts studied a tablet, mobile phone and computer tower and checked his Skype activity, texts, bank account and money transfers before charging him.
Page told the court his devices had been hacked but did not mention this while he was being interviewed by police, as he gave “no comment” answers, later explaining to the jury he was in shock.
Comparisons with Savile and Glitter
Jo Kidd, prosecuting, drew parallels with higher profile paedophiles than Page during her damning closing speech to the jury.
Page, of Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, had no previous dealings with police and was of previously good character.
However, Miss Kidd said: “Some of you may be old enough to remember Jim’ll Fix It.
“You will remember watching It’s a Knockout.
“You will remember revelling in the size of Gary Glitter’s shoes.
“They were people who were spoken highly of, even people who were knighted by the Queen.”
She said there was almost a “state funeral” for Savile, with his golden coffin taken through the streets of Leeds.
Miss Kidd continued: “I am not saying this on the basis that just because Mr Page was a Radio One DJ, that it makes him guilty of these offences.
“But it is worth noting, when one puts on a public face, when one carries out charity work, it does not mean the underbelly of their sexual depravity is not real.”
Page will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday.
Radio background
Page set up Perth FM in 2008 but it was a short-lived venture.
The one-time schoolboy DJ was a weekend breakfast presenter on Radio 1, replacing 80s icon Pat Sharp in the early morning slot.
Known as “Me Mark Page”, he served three years at the national broadcaster before moving into local and services radio.
He was also match announcer for Middlesborough FC.
