JOSEPH MCINTYRE FROM VAUXHALL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES IN LIVERPOOL

In August 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Joseph McIntyre, a 19-year-old man from Vauxhall, who engaged in a series of predatory and violent acts targeting a young girl. The incident began when McIntyre befriended a 14-year-old girl through social media platforms, initially believing she was 15. However, he soon discovered her true age, which did not deter his intentions.

McIntyre and the girl arranged to meet in person, leading him to take her to a hotel. During their encounter, he instructed her to claim she was 17 years old, aiming to conceal her actual age and avoid detection by authorities or her parents. This manipulation was part of a broader pattern of deceit and exploitation.

When the girl returned home, her father, concerned about her whereabouts, demanded an explanation. After reviewing messages on her phone, he became increasingly worried and contacted the police to report the incident. The case was subsequently brought before Liverpool Crown Court, where McIntyre faced multiple charges.

He was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child, a conviction that underscored the severity of his misconduct. Prosecutor Trevor Parry-Jones highlighted McIntyre’s troubling history, noting that his previous convictions revealed a pattern of seeking relationships with young girls. The court heard that McIntyre’s inappropriate pursuits included an incident where he physically assaulted a girl by kneeing her in the thigh and body.

Furthermore, when a young man intervened during one of McIntyre’s aggressive episodes, McIntyre responded with violence, pushing the man to the ground, kicking him, and stamping on his face. During the trial, it was revealed that McIntyre had made homophobic remarks, including telling his victim, “I hate gays.” He was convicted of assault and received a restraining order to prevent further contact with the girl.

However, McIntyre’s violent tendencies persisted. The teenage girl received threatening and homophobic messages from him, culminating in a terrifying incident where he held a screwdriver to her throat. The attack resulted in a small scar on her upper chest, a lasting physical reminder of his brutality.

For this assault causing actual bodily harm, McIntyre was sentenced to eight months in a young offenders institution. His pattern of dangerous behavior continued when he breached the restraining order by approaching the girl and threatening to destroy her home, saying, “I will blow your house up.” During this confrontation, he stabbed her with a knife, causing a superficial wound on her back, before fleeing and hiding two additional knives.

His subsequent sentencing included a 10-month prison term for the assault and possession of offensive weapons. The court also noted that McIntyre had a prior conviction for battery in July 2016, after he headbutted and bit a prison guard.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, emphasized that McIntyre was fully aware that his victim was under 16. While the girl had consented to sexual activity, her age meant she lacked the maturity to make an informed decision. The judge described McIntyre’s actions as instigated and carefully planned, including his efforts to hide her from her parents by persuading her to remove her SIM card.

Judge Flewitt condemned this aspect of the case as particularly sinister and highlighted that McIntyre’s previous criminal record aggravated his current offenses. He classified McIntyre as a high risk of causing serious harm to females known to him. The judge acknowledged McIntyre’s troubled upbringing, noting his disrupted education, behavioral issues, emotional difficulties, and diagnoses of dyslexia and Asperger’s syndrome.

Ultimately, McIntyre was sentenced to five years in a young offenders institution. The court also imposed an indefinite restraining order, required him to register as a sex offender, and mandated lifelong compliance with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.