Joseph Brian Parkin

In a disturbing case heard at Leeds Crown Court, Joseph Brian Parkin, a 23-year-old man from Belle Vue, Wakefield, was sentenced for engaging in sexual communication with children and breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). Parkin, previously convicted of multiple sexual offences, had been given a suspended sentence in June 2021 for contacting 13- and 14-year-old girls, yet he continued his predatory behaviour almost immediately after.

The court learned that Parkin wrote his mobile number on the back of a bus seat, targeting young children. Two schoolgirls, aged around 13 and 14, discovered the number and contacted him. Parkin then met the girls on several occasions, making explicit sexual comments towards them. He even began following the teenagers, prompting one girl's older sister to confront him in the street, after which he fled on his bicycle. Police were alerted, and upon arrest, Parkin refused to comment during his interview but later pleaded guilty to the charges.

Parkin's criminal history is extensive, with nine previous convictions including sexual assault of a girl under 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act, sexual communication with a child, sending indecent communications, and multiple breaches of his SHPO, which was originally imposed in 2017. Mitigating on his behalf, Satpal Roth-Sharma highlighted Parkin's diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, his placement in care from age 12, and his feelings of isolation due to never having a proper adult relationship. She noted that he had spent seven months on remand reflecting on his actions and expressed regret and remorse, attributing his behaviour to poor decisions linked to his condition and immaturity.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC acknowledged Parkin's autism and difficulties but deemed him 'dangerous' due to his inability to stop contacting young girls for sexual purposes. 'I can't take the risk of allowing you your liberty,' the judge stated, sentencing Parkin to a total of three years in prison: 20 months for the latest offences plus activation of the 16-month suspended sentence from the previous year. The case was reported by the Wakefield Express on 17 February 2022, underscoring the ongoing risks posed by repeat sex offenders in the community.