In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that David Joll, then 58, of Northern Parade, Hilsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, was jailed for five years for grooming and assaulting a vulnerable 12-year-old boy. On appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing, Joll was branded a “true paedophile” by the judge. The court reported that the defendant befriended the child, who was playing truant from school, and groomed him with cash and drinks before sexually assaulting him.
The investigation established that Joll had a significant criminal history, including multiple prior convictions for contact offences against boys and the possession of child abuse imagery. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary reported that Joll was meant to be completing sex offender treatment at the time he targeted the victim. The prosecution reported that after the initial assault, Joll took the boy to his home and provided his mobile number to maintain contact.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Joll’s defence lawyer made a “last-ditch bid for freedom,” suggesting a community sentence and claiming that Joll’s consumption of indecent images was a way to prevent him from committing contact offences. Portsmouth Crown Court heard that this argument was flatly rejected by the judge. The prosecution reported that a probation assessment found Joll has a problem with alcohol and poses a “very high risk” of further sexual offending.
Judge Roger Hetherington noted that Joll’s record proved he was an entrenched predator who had scoured the streets for young boys. For his actions in Hilsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, the defendant was refused any form of leniency. The judge noted that the five-year custodial term was necessary to address the fact that Joll had actively preyed on a child while under the supervision of the authorities for previous crimes.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, David Joll was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were maintained and updated.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court following an investigation in Hilsea, Portsmouth.
- Criminal Record: Multiple convictions for assaults on boys and possession of child abuse images.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Joll is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to his “very high risk” status and his history of “prowling” for victims in Portsmouth, Hampshire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Joll must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence in Northern Parade, Hilsea, for the period specified by the law. Authorities state that his relationship with another incarcerated sex offender and his history of preying on vulnerable children necessitate permanent and stringent monitoring of his movements. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to Portsmouth Crown Court.
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