Judge gives suspended sentence because of defendant’s good character
TUESDAY, MAY 8: A trainee firefighter was today given a suspended jail sentence after he was convicted of sexually exploiting a young girl.
Joshua Crockwell, 22, tried to get the 12-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him on two occasions.
He became friends with the girl and exchanged text messages with her in 2010.
And then in June 2010 he arranged to meet her and tried to get her to perform oral sex on him.
Crockwell was found guilty after a trial earlier this year of sexually exploiting a girl under the age of 14 between June 1 and June 30, 2010.
He played for Robin Hood football team and previously featured on many celebrity blogs last August for dating reality star Natalie Nunn from the Bad Girls Club.
In court today, Crockwell’s lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said a social inquiry report on her client said he was at low risk for reoffending and was a candidate for a community-based sentence.
“He has maintained a relatively clean lifestyle not withstanding the fact that he’s facing very, very serious charges,” she said.
“My client was not prosecuted for sexual assault.
“He maintains that he didn’t sexually assault or force anyone into a sexual act.”
Addressing the court himself, Crockwell said: “I would just like to apologise to the girl and her family for putting them through all this.
“To my family, for the pain and embarrassment I have caused them.
“To the courts as well.”
He continued: “I realise that my actions were wrong and reckless.
“These past two years, I have had a lot of time to talk with my family and my lawyer and I have learned a lot and nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Sentencing him, Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said: “I think you’re remorseful.
“I think it was a learning experience for you.
“By all indications, you were otherwise a decent young man.
“I don’t think you preyed on her or pursued her as such.”
“You were old enough to understand she was off limits.”
He continued: “I have taken into consideration the fact that the legislators consider this to be a very serious offence and that young girls have to be protected from men who would prey on them.
“I think this case is, even though there was some attempt of sexual contact, given the age of the relationship between you and the young lady, I would put it at around, on a scale of one to ten, the lower end at about four.
“But nonetheless, it’s serious and you ought to have known better.”
Mr Tokunbo gave Crockwell a 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years because of his previous good character and low risk of reoffending.
He also gave him two years probation.
We contacted the Fire Service to see if Crockwell would still have a job, but they weren’t in a position to comment.