JOSHUA CLARKE FROM PENRITH SHOCKS CUMBRIA WITH CHILD SEX AND DOG SEX OFFENSES

In October 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Joshua Clarke, a teenager from Penrith, who was convicted of a series of heinous crimes related to child exploitation and animal abuse. The case was brought to light during a court hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, where the full extent of Clarke’s criminal activities was revealed.

According to court records, Clarke, aged 18 at the time, engaged in highly graphic and sexualized exchanges over the internet with two girls based in the United States, aged 13 and 14. These exchanges included explicit conversations and images, which police uncovered after they visited Clarke’s residence in Penrith and seized electronic devices for forensic analysis. The investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern of online misconduct, including the distribution of indecent images of children, some of which were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, involving children as young as three years old.

Clarke’s online activities spanned over a period of three years, during which he sought solace in the online community, reportedly as a result of being subjected to sustained bullying at school. His actions included causing or inciting children to engage in sexual activities, encouraging them to watch sexual acts, and possessing extreme pornographic images. The police also found that Clarke had attempted to have sexual intercourse with a dog, an act that added to the severity of his charges.

During the court proceedings, Clarke admitted to multiple charges, including causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act, possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and attempting to have intercourse with a dog. His lawyer indicated that a forensic psychiatric assessment would be commissioned to better understand his mental state, with the report expected by mid to late September. Clarke, who resides on Macadam Way in Penrith, was remanded in custody and later sentenced to two years in a young offenders’ institution.

Judge James Adkin emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “This offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.” In addition to his imprisonment, Clarke was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration. The court’s decision underscores the severity of the offenses committed by Clarke and the ongoing risks associated with such criminal behavior.