Man jailed after admitting sexual activity with a child

A convicted sex offender has been jailed for eight years after admitting sexual activity with a teenager after being released from prison for similar offences.

He also admitted to communicating with two other teenagers, putting him in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Joseph Parkin, aged 26, who was formerly living in the Belle Vue area of Wakefield, previously pleaded guilty to four charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy under 16 years-old and two charges of breaching a Sexual Harm Protection Order. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court last Thursday (12 December) for sentencing.

He received an eight-year custodial sentence and was made subject of an extended licence period of six years on his release from prison.

One of the victims reported the offences against him to the police in October 2023. Parkin was quickly identified, arrested, charged and remanded in custody. He has been held on remand since that time.

Further enquiries established telephone contact that Parkin had had with a number of children. This contact was all thoroughly investigated by specially trained officers which resulted in the police identifying the further offending.

Detective Constable David Bradbury, of Wakefield District Child Safeguarding Unit, said:

“Parkin is a dangerous, sexual predator who has targeted victims under the age of 16, lying about his own age to engage with them.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the young victims for their bravery in providing statements and supporting our investigation, which has ensured that Parkin is back behind bars where he belongs.

“This has been a complex investigation with significant, fast-paced enquiries carried out to ensure no further sexual offences had been committed against any other child who Parkin communicated with.

“I would like to reassure members of the public that we have already made contact with parents or guardians of all children linked to this investigation.

“However, if you do have any concerns that a child may have been a victim of an offence then you can contact police via our Live Chat system online or by calling 101.”

How to report sexual abuse

To report child sexual abuse and exploitation, contact the police via online live chat system or by calling 101. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or vulnerable to harm, please call 999.

I have been a victim of sexual abuse – Can I claim compensation?

If you’ve experienced sexual abuse, AbuseClaims.co.uk can assist you in claiming compensation for the physical and emotional pain you’ve endured.

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Historic or non-recent abuse refers to instances where an adult experienced sexual abuse as a child or young person under the age of 18. This can involve a single incident or multiple occurrences of abuse, carried out by a stranger, a relative, or someone familiar.

Sexual or physical abuse is considered a crime regardless of the victim’s age. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), child sexual abuse involves coercing or encouraging a child to participate in sexual acts. It remains abuse even if the child does not initially understand that something is wrong.

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How to make a claim?

This area of the law is highly specialised, and it is important to have a solicitor who has experience pursuing claims for compensation for historic sexual and physical abuse and assault.

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How long will my case take to run?

Generally, a civil claim for abuse or assaults can be concluded within 6-12 months. We will provide you with regular updates as your claim progresses.

Once we have been able to assess your case, we will give you an idea at the outset of the likely timescale.

It will very much depend on what evidence we need to gather, who we are bringing the claim against and also whether the claim can be settled without court proceedings.

Should I make a claim?

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Would I have to go to court?

If the case does not settle, then ultimately the matter would proceed to Court where a Judge would make a determination. Most cases, however, do settle out of Court, so although this is an unlikely eventuality, we cannot rule it out as an impossibility.

If you do have any concerns about this during the process of your claim, then we would be happy to discuss this with you and address any concerns you may have.

Why should I use Abuseclaims.co.uk?

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