In 2017, the Offender Database reported that Joshua England, then 19, of Saltcotes Place, Lytham, Lancashire, was sentenced to six years and six months in a young offenders’ institute. Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, England was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old girl and committing a separate sexual assault against a second victim.
The investigation established that England targeted the 14-year-old victim after knowing her for only one day. The prosecution reported that the defendant forced the girl to undergo the “serious” ordeal of testifying three separate times during the trial after he denied the allegations. The victim, who was sitting her exams during the legal proceedings, described the two-year wait for justice as “devastating” and “stressful.” The court heard that even the judge expressed concern at the defence’s decision to recall the young witness to the stand multiple times.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that England’s “reprehensible” conduct extended to a second victim, proving a predatory pattern of behaviour. The judge noted that the defendant showed no remorse, forcing a child to relive her trauma repeatedly in a public forum. The prosecution, supported by Lancashire Constabulary, emphasised that the victim had been incredibly strong throughout the “serious” questioning by both the prosecution and defence teams.
The judge noted that the custodial term was necessary to address the grave nature of the rape and the risk England posed to other young women. The prosecution emphasised that while the victim and her mother felt no sentence could ever be enough, the conviction ensured England would be monitored for the rest of his life. For his crimes in Lytham and Preston, the court determined that he must be subject to strict digital and physical restrictions upon his eventual release.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Joshua England was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Six years and six months in a young offenders’ institute.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SHPO: Made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Convictions: Found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Monitoring and Public Protection
England is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Lancashire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “serious” and persistent nature of his sexual offending against children, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, England must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Lytham, Lancashire. Authorities state that his SHPO serves as a vital tool to restrict his contact with children and monitor his activities. Any breach of his registration conditions, his SHPO, or his licence terms following his release will result in his immediate arrest and return to Preston Combined Court.
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