JOSHUA WATSON FROM CARLISLE REOFFENDS: DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDER BACK BEHIND BARS FOR ONLINE BREACHES
A known sex offender from Carlisle, Joshua Watson, aged 26, has once again found himself incarcerated after engaging in illicit online activities that violated the strict conditions of his previous legal obligations.Watson, who has a history of serious sexual offences, was previously described as a 'dangerous' individual due to the nature of his crimes and his repeated failure to adhere to legal restrictions.
Watson’s latest legal troubles came to light during a hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to four separate offences related to his breach of the terms set out in his sex offender registration and related orders.
The court was informed that Watson, residing on Beaumont Road in Carlisle, had deliberately circumvented restrictions by creating and maintaining secret online accounts, despite being under a sexual harm prevention order that mandated full disclosure of all internet activity to authorities.
Specifically, Watson admitted to breaching his order in July by possessing a device capable of internet access that had the WhatsApp application installed, which featured an 'auto delete' function for messages—an obvious attempt to conceal communications.
Additionally, he failed to comply with his legal obligation under the Sex Offender Register by not disclosing the usernames associated with three separate online accounts he had established.
These breaches occurred between June 30 and July 24, highlighting a pattern of deliberate non-compliance.
During the court proceedings, Watson’s defence lawyer highlighted that his client’s prompt guilty pleas to all four offences should be considered as a mitigating factor.
However, the seriousness of his actions was underscored by his prior history.
In January of the previous year, Watson was recalled to prison after being found in possession of a mobile phone that he had not registered with the police, and for setting up a Snapchat account without informing authorities.
This offence was committed just a year after he was sentenced for downloading numerous indecent images of children and while he was awaiting sentencing for other offences, including purchasing alcohol for underage girls and making sexual advances towards them.
Watson’s previous sentence included a decade-long registration requirement, which mandated that he inform police of any new online accounts and disclose all internet-enabled devices within three days of acquiring them.
These devices were also required to be fitted with police monitoring software capable of displaying internet history.
Despite these restrictions, police discovered a mobile phone at Watson’s home that he had failed to register.
When questioned, Watson claimed that a relative had given him the phone the day before and that he intended to report it to the police the following day.
However, upon inspection, police found that Watson had acquired the phone much earlier than he claimed and that he had simply forgotten to disclose it.
Watson attempted to justify his failure to report the phone by citing personal stress, including his parents’ separation and the recent death of his dog.
The prosecutor emphasized the gravity of Watson’s repeated offences, describing him as a dangerous individual whose actions posed ongoing risks to the community.
The court was reminded that these offences occurred shortly after his release from custody, underscoring concerns about his potential for further harm if not properly detained.
