JOSHUA WILSON FROM BEDWORTH SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN WARWICKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing dangers of online child exploitation, Joshua Wilson, a 27-year-old resident of Alice Close in Bedworth, has seen his prison sentence significantly increased following a series of heinous crimes involving the solicitation and exploitation of young children through digital platforms.

Wilson initially appeared before Warwick Crown Court in March 2025, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to his online activities. The court was informed that in 2024, Wilson had engaged in a calculated effort to contact minors, including a nine-year-old girl, under the false pretense of being a 12-year-old boy. His actions included requesting explicit photographs and sending sexually explicit images of himself to at least one of his victims.

According to court records, Wilson had also targeted two children on social media between May and September 2023. During this period, he not only solicited nude images but also uploaded indecent images of children onto messaging services. The investigation revealed that he possessed numerous indecent images, some of which were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of illegal content under UK law.

In October 2024, while on bail following his initial arrest, Wilson continued his predatory behavior by contacting the nine-year-old girl again on a social media platform, urging her to send photographs. The girl’s family discovered the messages on her phone and promptly reported the incident to authorities. This led to Wilson’s arrest and subsequent search of his phone, which uncovered further evidence of sexual conversations with other minors and a collection of illicit images and videos of children as young as five or six.

The case drew significant attention when Solicitor General Lucy Rigby intervened, arguing that Wilson’s original four-year sentence was too lenient given the severity of his crimes. Following her referral to the Court of Appeal, Wilson’s sentence was increased to five years and ten months, reflecting the gravity of his offenses. Rigby condemned Wilson’s actions, stating, “Joshua Wilson’s crimes were sickening. He sought to befriend and sexually exploit vulnerable children.”

Wilson faced multiple charges, including attempting to cause a child to view sexual material, inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual communications with minors, and making indecent images of children. His guilty plea underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in protecting children from online predators.

Detective Sergeant Dave Moorman of Warwickshire Police’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) praised the quick action of the girl’s parents, who monitored their child's phone use and alerted authorities. He emphasized the ongoing threat posed by predators like Wilson, warning that they go to extreme lengths to manipulate and exploit children. Moorman urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to implement robust digital safety practices to shield young people from such dangers.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for parental supervision and awareness in the digital age, as well as the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat online child exploitation and bring offenders like Joshua Wilson to justice.