In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Joshua Parker, then 22, was released from prison following a predatory campaign of online grooming. Originally sentenced in March 2017 at Plymouth Crown Court, Parker, of Sutton Court, Devonport, Plymouth, saw his custodial term reduced on appeal to five years. Under UK sentencing guidelines, he was eligible for release in 2019 after serving half of his term.
The investigation established that Parker used multiple fake Facebook accounts to hunt down underage girls in Plymouth, Devon. He targeted children as young as 12, sending them sordid sexual messages and explicit photographs. In one instance, he made a video call to a 12-year-old girl during which he masturbated. He also groomed a 15-year-old girl, eventually meeting her and engaging in sexual activity on more than one occasion.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Parker’s actions involved a calculated element of grooming. Plymouth Crown Court heard that he had also met a 14-year-old girl for “kissing and cuddling” after contacting her online. Although the Court of Appeal slashed his sentence from six years and four months to five years—citing his young age at the time of the offences and a psychological assessment—senior judges maintained that the grooming was a serious aggravating factor.
The judge noted that the psychological assessment referred to Parker being “severely anxious and depressed” during the period of offending. For his actions in Devonport, Plymouth, he was convicted of sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and sending indecent communications. The prosecution reported that the defendant’s use of social media to “hunt” victims made him a significant danger to children in the local community.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Joshua Parker was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years in a young offenders’ institution (following appeal).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for 10 years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to five counts.
- Release: Released in 2019 under standard licence conditions.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Parker is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Devon and Cornwall Police and the Probation Service. Due to the “hunting” nature of the grooming in Devonport, Plymouth, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Parker must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Sutton Court, Devonport, for the duration of his term, which remains active until at least 2027. Authorities state that his history of using fake Facebook accounts to target children necessitates permanent and intense scrutiny of his digital activity and social associations. Any breach of his registration conditions or the terms of his licence will result in immediate arrest and a return to Plymouth Crown Court.
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