In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Joseph Whalebone, then 78, remains incarcerated following his 14-year prison sentence. Whalebone, a “vile” and “vicious” predator, carried out a serious campaign of sexual abuse against a young girl over a seven-year period. The investigation by Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police established that the “horrific” assaults took place at a property in Margate, Kent, and another address in South East London, leaving the victim with “severe psychological harm.”
The court heard horrendous details of the impact on the survivor, who bravely disclosed the abuse to officers after a suicide attempt, stating that she “wanted to die.” Alongside the “vicious” physical assaults, Whalebone was found in possession of a sickening stash of 923 indecent images and 66 videos, including “depraved” extreme pornography involving animals. Judge James O’Mahony reported that the severity of the psychological damage inflicted on the child necessitated a substantial custodial term to protect the public.
During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Whalebone denied the majority of the charges against him, including seven counts of sexual assault and three counts of rape. While the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the rape charges, he was found guilty of three counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13. The prosecution reported that Whalebone showed a deplorable lack of remorse, even waving to friends and family in the gallery as he was led away to begin his “serious” 14-year sentence.
As a result of his convictions for sexual assault and possession of extreme pornography, Joseph Whalebone was jailed for 14 years. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and remains under intensive supervision. He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by both Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police Service, ensuring that his history of predatory behaviour in Margate and London is strictly monitored. Any future risk posed by the offender will be managed by the authorities to prevent further “vile” acts of abuse.
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