A 23-year-old London man who used social media platforms to groom a young teenage girl before travelling to Bedfordshire to carry out a violent late-night sexual attack has been jailed for 13 and a half years at Luton Crown Court.
Joshua Gray, of Ellanby Crescent, London, appeared for sentence on Friday 2 October 2026. He had previously entered guilty pleas to indictable offences of rape, sexual assault, sexual communication with a child, and intentional strangulation following an inquiry conducted by Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team.
The court heard that Gray initiated contact with the young victim on TikTok. After establishing rapport, he moved their communications onto the private messaging platform Discord. Over a four-day span, Gray sent the child numerous sexually explicit messages, using coercive manipulation to lower her inhibitions and convince her to agree to an in-person meeting.
Having coordinated the meeting online, Gray travelled from London to a village near Bedford. He arranged for the girl to meet him late at night in a local public park. Once alone in the isolated area, Gray attacked the child, subjecting her to intentional strangulation, sexual assault, and rape.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all victims of sexual offences are entitled to lifelong statutory anonymity from the moment an allegation is made. It is a criminal offence to publish, broadcast, or disclose any details, including names, addresses, school information, or photographs, that could lead to the public identification of the child victim across any broadcast, print, website, or social media platform.
The ordeal came to an end when the victim was reported missing from home, triggering an urgent police deployment. Officers dispatched to search the area found the girl in distress at the park and immediately secured medical and safeguarding assistance. Additional officers located Gray in the surrounding area shortly afterwards and arrested him.
Faced with the evidence compiled by PVP detectives, Gray entered formal guilty pleas to:
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexual communication with a child
- Intentional strangulation
Sentencing Gray at Luton Crown Court, the presiding judge handed him an immediate determinate sentence of 13 years and six months’ imprisonment.
Under current statutory sentencing guidelines for serious sexual offences, Gray will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his 13-and-a-half-year term in custody before he is eligible to be considered for release on licence by the Parole Board. Should he be released prior to the conclusion of the sentence, he will remain subject to strict probation supervision and immediate recall to prison upon any breach of conditions.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered:
A 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) severely limiting his digital access, communications equipment, and unmonitored contact with children
A restraining order prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with the victim until further notice
Mandatory lifetime notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Detective Constable Lauren Byrne of Bedfordshire Police praised the survivor’s courage:
“Gray deliberately targeted a vulnerable young girl online and manipulated her into meeting him before abusing her in the worst possible way.
“I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in supporting this investigation. I hope this sentence demonstrates that we will do everything possible to bring offenders who exploit and abuse children to justice.
“Please remember it’s never too late to report. By doing so you could help us put these dangerous perpetrators in prison, while potentially protecting further victims.”
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Register Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.