DAVID JOLL SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON IN PORTSMOUTH FOR GROOMING AND GROPING A CHILD
A 58-year-old man named David Joll, who engaged in grooming and groping a vulnerable 12-year-old boy, has been sentenced to five years in prison.Joll, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, befriended the boy—who was truant from school—and then touched his bottom over his trousers on two separate occasions.
Joll, described as a 'true paedophile' by Judge Roger Hetherington, was shown no leniency during his sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court.
The court heard that Joll, residing on Northern Parade, Hilsea, has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for assaulting boys and possessing images of child abuse.
His most recent convictions—just last year—were related to indecent images, with his lawyer claiming that viewing such material had prevented him from abusing boys directly.
Despite a last-minute plea for leniency by his defense, Judge Hetherington rejected it, highlighting that Joll was supposed to be completing treatment as a sex offender when he targeted the young boy who was also truant.
It was revealed that Joll had taken the boy to his home shortly after the abuse, giving him his mobile number and grooming him further by providing cash and non-alcoholic drinks.
Probation reports identified issues with alcohol and assessed Joll as posing a very high risk of committing further sexual offenses, the court was told.
Addressing Joll directly, Judge Hetherington stated: “Turning to your previous convictions, these show that you are a true paedophile in the worst sense of that word who has committed a number of serious contact offences against young boys.
The last of those was in 2004, but there were several significant offences.” He warned, “Who is to know that if things hadn’t been brought to a halt in relation to this boy, something far worse than what you had in fact been convicted of might not have happened.” The judge further emphasized Joll’s dangerousness, noting that he had a partner who was also a convicted sex offender serving time for historic offenses, and that Joll himself posed a high risk of further harm.
The court deemed Joll as dangerous, which could have led to an extended period on license, but this was not imposed.
Through a statement read by prosecutor Matthew Lawson, the victim expressed his feelings: “I feel sick about all of this.
I feel better he is in prison, as he can’t get out of prison.
I want him in prison.” Joll, who had been held on remand, denied touching the boy but was found guilty by a jury.
The judge increased his sentence due to his previous convictions and made clear there was no mitigation for his actions.
A sexual harm prevention order was issued for ten years, restricting Joll’s contact with children, and he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the same duration.
