Joshua Bridgewater

Joshua Bridgewater, from Westbury Road in Southend, walked free from Basildon Crown Court in May 2025 after receiving an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 20 months, for sexually assaulting a woman under the influence of powerful medication. He pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and emotionally abusing his victim.

The court heard that Bridgewater forced the woman to perform a sexual act while she was unconscious due to medication. She woke partway through the attack, highlighting the non-consensual nature of the assault. Bridgewater stood in the dock as his parents watched, admitting the full extent of his abusive conduct. The judge considered the circumstances, including the victim’s vulnerability, but opted for a suspended sentence.

As reported by The Echo in its 2025 crime review, the case drew attention to issues of sexual violence and control within relationships. Despite the guilty plea, Bridgewater avoided immediate custody, with the suspension reflecting factors such as his lack of prior convictions, though the offences clearly constituted serious sexual misconduct.