A 26-year-old man named Joshua Pemberton has pleaded guilty to horrifying crimes involving a 13-year-old girl. The incident took place at a Travelodge in Livingston, West Lothian, on January 22, 2022. Pemberton, hailing from Beauly in the Highlands, not only raped the young girl but also threatened to expose intimate pictures of her.
Before this assault occurred, Pemberton had taken explicit images of the victim and had engaged in written sexual communication with her. He proceeded to assault her inside a bathroom at the hotel, holding her tightly in his arms. Adding to the severity of his actions, Pemberton continued to threaten and disclose the intimate pictures of the girl between the day of the rape and June 22 of the same year.
Moreover, Pemberton faces additional charges relating to unlawful sexual activity with the victim or in her presence. It’s worth noting that he has also been charged with having sexual relations with two other girls aged between 14 and 15, at locations in Inverness. These charges span a timeframe from January to June 2022.
This is not the first time Pemberton has found himself on the wrong side of the law. In 2018, he was sentenced to 27 months in jail for threatening to rape and drown a 13-year-old girl unless she sent him indecent images of herself. Again, in 2019, he received a two-year jail sentence for a similar offense.
The High Court in Glasgow accepted Pemberton’s guilty plea for a total of 16 charges. However, the sentencing has been deferred until next month, as the court seeks more information about the circumstances surrounding his latest offenses.
In the meantime, Joshua Pemberton will remain in custody, as his remand has been extended by Judge Lady Stacey.
These chilling crimes highlight the importance of safeguarding young individuals and providing them with the necessary support and protection. It is crucial for society to take decisive action against perpetrators of such heinous acts, ensuring that justice is served for the victims involved.
