JOSHUA INGRAM OF SHEERNESS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN MAIDSTONE COURT

The family of a convicted bigamist was once again thrust into the spotlight when Joshua Ingram, a 24-year-old resident of Sheerness, was sentenced to prison for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two young children. The proceedings took place at Maidstone Crown Court, just four weeks after his father, John Ingram, appeared before the same court to face charges related to an illegal marriage to his teenage stepdaughter while still married to her mother.

During the recent hearing, Joshua Ingram stood in the dock, with the courtroom filled with onlookers and legal representatives. His father, John Ingram, was present in the public gallery, observing the proceedings as his son faced justice. The court was informed that Ingram’s criminal conduct began when he was still a teenager, and his actions spanned several years, starting from 2015.

According to the court, Ingram subjected his young victims to a series of disturbing and predatory acts. His abuse included showing one of the children a pornographic video on his mobile phone and then coercing her into performing a sex act depicted in the video. The court heard that Ingram’s language was crude and threatening; he told one of the victims that he wanted to “f***” them and warned her to keep quiet about what had happened, indicating a pattern of intimidation and control.

On another occasion, Ingram’s brutality escalated as he threatened to kill his second victim if she did not comply with his demands. He used force by dragging her by her leg and covering her mouth with his hand to silence her. These acts of violence and coercion underscored the severity of his crimes.

Ingram later admitted to committing a total of 13 offences, which included 12 counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to watch pornography. These offences spanned a period from 2015 onwards, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Philip St John-Stevens addressed Ingram directly, noting the profound impact his actions had on his victims. The judge observed that Ingram appeared emotional during the proceedings, wiping his eyes with a tissue. He emphasized that the abuse had caused lasting damage, describing it as “devastating and distorting” for those affected.

The judge referenced statements from the victims, which were read aloud earlier in the case, highlighting the profound loss of innocence and childhood they experienced. The victims described feelings of depression, anguish, and fear, with one expressing concern that their secret might be discovered, further complicating their trauma.

Concluding his remarks, Judge St John-Stevens expressed hope that the victims could begin to recover and rebuild their lives, acknowledging the strength they had shown in coming forward. He emphasized that the court’s primary goal was to serve justice and to facilitate some form of rehabilitation for Ingram, despite the gravity of his crimes.