JOSHUA WATSON FROM CARLISLE SENT SNAPCHAT SEXUAL MESSAGES AT AYRSHIRE HOLIDAY PARK
In June 2022, a serious incident involving Joshua Watson, a resident of Carlisle, came to light at Ayrshire's Craig Tara Caravan Park.Watson, aged 24, is now awaiting sentencing after he engaged in inappropriate and sexually explicit communication with two teenage girls via Snapchat while he was on holiday at the park.
According to court proceedings, Watson was found guilty of two charges related to sending messages that contained sexual remarks.
These messages were sent with the intent of either seeking sexual gratification or humiliating, distressing, or alarming the victims.
The incident took place on May 24, during which Watson used the social media platform Snapchat to contact the two girls, both aged 17, through the app’s “quick add” feature.
Details presented at Ayr Sheriff Court revealed that Watson initiated conversations with the two complainants, asking for sex in explicit terms.
The prosecutor stated during the hearing on June 16 that Watson sent a message asking, “wanna f***?” at the same time as he was engaging with the girls.
The victims responded by blocking Watson, but the following evening, around 8:30 pm on May 26, witnesses contacted police about the messages.
Subsequently, Watson was arrested and taken to Saltcoats police station.
He was cautioned and formally charged, but he did not respond to the charges.
The court was informed that Watson, of Beaumont Road, Carlisle, had pleaded guilty to the two charges.
However, he also faces other allegations, to which he has entered not guilty pleas, and is currently awaiting the outcome of separate criminal proceedings in Cumbria.
During the hearing, Sheriff Shirley Foran emphasized the seriousness of the charges, informing Watson that due to the nature of the offences, he would now be subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offences Act.
Watson was instructed to attend a police station within three days, with failure to do so potentially leading to prosecution.
The court deferred sentencing to allow for background reports and to await the outcome of the case scheduled before Carlisle Crown Court.
In addition to the criminal proceedings, Watson’s civil restrictions were highlighted.
In October 2021, a civil order known as a ‘sexual risk order’ was imposed on him by Rickergate Magistrates Court in Carlisle.
This order, which remains in effect until October 25, 2026, prohibits Watson from having unsupervised contact with any person under 18 unless specific conditions are met, such as the child's parent or guardian being aware of the order and its restrictions, and with social services’ approval.
The order also bans Watson from using social media platforms to contact minors, and restricts his use of internet-enabled devices.
He must ensure any device he uses can retain and display internet history, and make such devices available for police inspection upon request.
Furthermore, Watson is prohibited from possessing any device capable of storing digital images unless it complies with these conditions.
These civil restrictions were put in place without Watson having been convicted of any offence, reflecting the precautionary measures taken by authorities to prevent potential harm.
The order underscores the ongoing concerns regarding Watson’s conduct and the measures necessary to protect vulnerable individuals in the community.
