In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Joshua Ashton, who was sentenced to ten years in 2014, was released from prison. On Friday, 26 April 2019, Ashton was released on licence after serving five years of his custodial term for the repeated rape and abuse of a pre-pubescent child. He has since returned to the Blackburn and Great Harwood areas of Lancashire.
The investigation established that Ashton was convicted at Burnley Crown Court in 2014 of three counts of rape of a child under 13. The court heard how he dominated the schoolgirl physically, emotionally, and sexually, dismissing her rejections as “just a bit of fun.” Despite the evidence, Ashton denied all charges, labelling the victim’s testimony a “pack of lies” and forcing the young girl to give evidence in court via a video link.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Ashton’s actions caused the victim severe psychological harm. The judge noted that the defendant showed a total lack of remorse, instead choosing to characterise the child as an attention seeker. The prosecution stated that the “dominant” nature of the abuse and the young age of the victim necessitated a double-digit prison sentence and lifelong monitoring.
The judge noted that Ashton posed a significant risk to minors, leading to the imposition of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). For his actions in Burnley and Blackburn, Lancashire, the court determined that the defendant must be permanently barred from working with children and restricted from any communication with anyone under the age of 16. The prosecution noted that the 2014 trial provided a harrowing account of the trauma inflicted on the victim during the periods of abuse.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Joshua Ashton was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 10 years in prison (Released on licence in April 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SOPO: An indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning contact with children under 16.
- Employment: Permanently barred from working with children or in child-related activities.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Ashton is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lancashire Constabulary and the Probation Service. Following his return to Blackburn and Great Harwood, Lancashire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Ashton must comply with notification requirements for the rest of his life. Authorities state that within two weeks of his release, reports emerged that he had opened a Facebook account under a fake name, which would constitute a potential breach of his indefinite SOPO and licence conditions. Any breach of his registration, including the use of aliases online or contact with minors, will result in immediate arrest and a return to prison.
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