JOSH MCDOUGAL SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND MANIPULATION IN STOCKTON

A man with a troubling history of manipulative and criminal behavior has been handed a significant prison sentence following a serious sexual assault case in Stockton. Josh McDougal, aged 32, was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman at his residence in July 2020, an incident that has left a lasting impact on the victim and the community alike.

After his conviction last year, McDougal engaged in a disturbing attempt to distort the truth surrounding the case. He created fake WhatsApp messages, which he falsely claimed demonstrated that his victim was lying about the assault. These fabricated messages were part of his effort to manipulate the narrative and cast doubt on the victim’s account. During police investigations, McDougal admitted to perverting the course of justice by telling law enforcement that he was influenced by voices in his head, which led him to generate these false communications.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby detailed the events leading up to the assault, stating that McDougal had invited the young woman to his home with the intention of smoking cannabis in what was supposed to be a safe environment. Despite her protests and pleas for him to stop, McDougal proceeded to commit the rape. The victim’s account was corroborated by evidence presented during the trial, which concluded with a unanimous guilty verdict from the jury after a five-day trial held in August 2023.

During the sentencing hearing, McDougal attempted to further manipulate the situation by calling emergency services (999), claiming that masked men had broken into his Stockton residence demanding an envelope containing printed WhatsApp messages. He insisted these messages proved the victim had lied about the assault. However, law enforcement quickly uncovered that there was no evidence of any robbery or break-in, and the style of writing in the alleged messages was identified as McDougal’s own handwriting, created on his mother’s laptop.

In his police interview, McDougal admitted to fabricating the messages himself and claimed that he was hearing voices, which he said influenced his actions. The victim, meanwhile, described her experience as deeply traumatic, stating that the assault had left her 'scarred for life.' She condemned McDougal’s attempts to manipulate the case, describing his actions as 'selfish' and a form of 're-victimising' her. She expressed her desire for him to leave her alone, labeling him a 'dangerous and manipulative man.'

Throughout the trial, McDougal also attempted to portray the incident as consensual, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The judge overseeing the case described his behavior as 'very predatory' and lacking in empathy, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime committed against a vulnerable young woman. As part of the sentencing, an indefinite restraining order was issued, prohibiting McDougal from contacting or referencing the victim on social media or through any other means, in an effort to protect her from further harm.