JOSEPH CHEETHAM SENTENCED IN CARLISLE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRL AND CHILDHOOD OFFENSES

In October 2011, a man formerly residing in Carlisle was sentenced to prison for his involvement in the sexual abuse of a young girl. Joseph Cheetham, aged 23 at the time, was convicted of engaging in inappropriate and sexualized communication with a 13-year-old girl, which ultimately led to a two-year incarceration. The sentencing took place at Carlisle Crown Court, where the judge emphasized the importance of addressing not only the specific incident but also Cheetham’s troubling history of child sexual offenses.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Cheetham had a prior, more serious incident from when he was just 14 years old, involving the sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl. Although this earlier offense did not result in a formal criminal conviction, it was noted by the court that the Children’s Panel in Scotland had ordered supervision for Cheetham and considered witness testimonies credible, suggesting a pattern of concerning behavior involving young children.

The current case involved Cheetham, who was then living in Carlisle with his partner, and was accused of sending flirtatious and sexually suggestive text messages to the 13-year-old girl. Prosecutor Andrew Ford detailed that while some of the messages appeared playful, they crossed the line into inappropriate territory, especially when Cheetham engaged in physical contact with the girl. The girl had explicitly told him to stop, and she did not respond to subsequent messages, indicating her discomfort and desire to end the communication.

It was further reported that in September, the girl confided in her mother about the messages from Cheetham. This led to the police being contacted and an investigation being launched. During police interviews, Cheetham admitted to having an interest in the girl but acknowledged her age, recognizing that she was too young for any romantic or sexual relationship. He also disclosed that he had previously sexually abused a six-year-old girl when he was 14, a revelation that added weight to the court’s concerns about his propensity for child abuse.

Cheetham’s defense, represented by Alison Whalley, argued that he was motivated to seek help for his issues. However, the probation service in Cumbria expressed doubts about his suitability for a sex offenders’ treatment program, citing his denial of guilt and lack of acknowledgment of the severity of his actions. The judge, Peter Hughes QC, expressed concern over Cheetham’s continued denial and emphasized the importance of protecting the public from further harm.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Hughes highlighted that the sentence was designed not only to punish but also to serve a rehabilitative purpose. Cheetham was ordered to undergo a sexual offences treatment program while in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of ten years and was subject to an order prohibiting him from working with or having unsupervised access to children, reflecting the court’s focus on safeguarding vulnerable individuals and preventing future offenses.