In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Joseph Webb, then 25, of Everest Way, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was jailed for predatory sexual assaults on the Nickey Line. On Monday, 1 April 2019, Webb appeared at Luton Crown Court, where he was handed a custodial sentence of six years and nine months. The court heard that he targeted a 13-year-old schoolgirl and a woman in her 20s while they were walking along the well-known path in Hemel Hempstead.
The investigation established that the offences occurred in June 2017. In the first instance, on 5 June, Webb assaulted a 13-year-old girl who was wearing her school uniform, leaving no doubt that he intended to target a child. During a second attack on 19 June, he assaulted a woman in her 20s. In both cases, Webb used threats to terrify his victims, telling the schoolgirl he had a knife. Although he initially claimed to be at home sunbathing during the second assault, CCTV footage proved his location, leading to his eventual guilty pleas.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Webb “preyed” on females in a secluded public area for his own sexual gratification. Luton Crown Court heard that his behaviour was particularly “abhorrent” due to the targeting of a child in uniform. Detective Constable Sophia Latif noted that Webb made no admissions during police interviews and only admitted his guilt shortly before a trial was scheduled. The judge noted that the use of threats and the choice of victims indicated a significant level of predatory intent in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
The judge noted that the trauma inflicted on the victims necessitated a significant period of incarceration followed by a lengthy period of supervision. For his actions on the Nickey Line, Webb must serve at least two-thirds of his term before being considered for parole. The prosecution reported that the presence of forensic and CCTV evidence was decisive in overcoming Webb’s initial denials and securing the convictions for the assaults in Hemel Hempstead.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Joseph Webb was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six years and nine months in prison.
- Extended Licence: Four years of mandatory supervision following release.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated indefinitely.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Restraining Orders: Indefinite orders in place to protect both victims.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Luton Crown Court following guilty pleas.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Webb is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “abhorrent” nature of the attacks and the use of weapons threats in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Webb must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Everest Way, Hemel Hempstead, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his SHPO and the four-year extended licence are essential for managing the risk he poses upon his eventual release. Any breach of his registration conditions, the SHPO, or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Luton Crown Court.
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