JOSEPH LISLE AND ASHINGTON: PERVERTED OFFENDER SENTENCED IN JULY 2015

In August 2012, a case involving Joseph Lisle, who was then residing in Ashington, came to light after police investigation uncovered disturbing criminal activity. Lisle, now living in Whitley Bay as of July 2015, was convicted of serious offenses related to child abuse.

The investigation was triggered when a missing schoolgirl was found hiding in Lisle's Ashington home during a police search in June of the previous year. The search also uncovered a significant amount of illegal material, including a stash of child pornography and evidence indicating Lisle had been abusing two teenage girls.

Newcastle Crown Court revealed that the girl had willingly stayed at Lisle’s house with a 17-year-old friend, who has not been named due to legal restrictions. The girl had argued with her mother about staying out overnight. When she failed to return home, her mother launched an urgent search. Both the 17-year-old and Lisle repeatedly lied to police and her mother about her whereabouts.

After four days, police executed a search of Lisle’s residence and located the girl concealed in the attic. During the search, authorities seized Lisle’s computer and discovered two images of children in pornography, 87 cartoon pornographic images depicting children, and a video of extreme adult pornography. Records of online conversations also indicated Lisle's involvement in illicit exchanges with two 13-year-old girls.

Lisle, aged 22 at the time, had a previous relationship with one of the victims, often buying her cigarettes and alcohol. The court heard that after a night out drinking with friends, Lisle kissed the girl and touched her sexually; over several months, they engaged in sexual activity before their relationship drifted apart. The second victim visited Lisle’s residence on Alexandra Road, where he showed her marks on the walls from punching, claiming he did so "when he didn’t get his own way." He then touched her, telling her not to stop and warning her not to tell anyone.

On a different occasion, Lisle contacted the girl online, proposing what he called a "deal." Prosecutor Tom Moran explained to the court, “She asked what the deal was, and he said it was that, every time she asked for a cigarette, he would be allowed to touch her. He then said he wanted to change the deal, wanting her to expose herself on the webcam.” She refused, and Lisle again told her not to tell anyone.

Cate Lisle pled guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child, possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images, possessing extreme pornography, and perverting the course of justice. The judge sentenced him to three years and four months in prison, commenting, “You have developed an unhealthy interest in young children.”

Additionally, Lisle’s sentence includes a ban from residing with children, making unsupervised contact with minors, and using the internet without monitored access for ten years. The 17-year-old co-defendant, who admitted to perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to a nine-month youth rehabilitation order, including supervision for nine months and 80 hours of unpaid work.