SIMON JOSEPHS FROM FELLING GATESHEAD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN BRIGHTON AND LEWES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Simon Josephs, a 40-year-old man from Felling, Gateshead, has been subjected to a new prison sentence following his involvement in a series of heinous child sex crimes. The case, which unfolded across multiple locations including Brighton, Sussex, and Lewes, Sussex, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior facilitated through online platforms and physical meetings.

Josephs was sentenced to an additional 15 months in prison, a term to run concurrently with an existing six-year sentence he was already serving. This new sentence was handed down after he admitted to impregnating a 14-year-old girl during a series of sexual encounters. The grooming process began when Josephs engaged the young girl through an online chat-room, where he used the alias 'Super Simon.' He initiated contact with her from his residence in Gateshead, reaching out to her in Brighton, Sussex, via an American-based chat platform.

The young girl, who went by the pseudonym 'Rare Girl,' was only 14 at the time, although Josephs falsely claimed to be 19. Over several weeks, he maintained a manipulative correspondence with her, during which he gained her trust and exchanged numerous messages. The girl later provided her mobile number, and during phone conversations, she disclosed her actual age of 14. Despite her age, Josephs traveled from Gateshead to Brighton during the school half-term in March, where he met her in person. They stayed together in a hotel for two nights while her mother believed she was visiting a friend.

Prosecutors revealed that during this visit, the pair engaged in sexual activity, with the girl not using any contraception, despite having informed Josephs of her age. The relationship continued into April, with the pair meeting again at a bed and breakfast and later in a hotel in Crawley. The situation escalated when Josephs invited the girl to his home in Gateshead, but her mother grew suspicious, leading to his arrest in September. It was during police interviews that the girl disclosed she was pregnant with Josephs' child, prompting further investigation.

The court proceedings uncovered a disturbing history of abuse. In October of the previous year, Newcastle Crown Court convicted Josephs of eight charges related to indecent assault and indecency with a child, spanning from 1984 to 1989. Evidence presented during the trial detailed how Josephs forced the young girl to perform sex acts, watch him bathe, and massage him, as well as viewing pornographic images. These revelations added to the gravity of his offenses.

Further investigations revealed that Josephs had a prior conviction in 1998 for possessing child pornography. Police traced one of his victims to London, who recounted her own traumatic experience at his hands. Yesterday, at Lewes Crown Court, Josephs was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to five charges of unlawful sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl. The judge ordered that this sentence run concurrently with his existing six-year term and mandated that Josephs be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall condemned Josephs' actions, describing him as a predator who exploited a vulnerable young girl for his own sexual gratification. The court emphasized the dangers posed by the internet, which Josephs used as a tool to groom and manipulate his victims, highlighting the depraved and unhealthy nature of his conduct. The case underscores the ongoing risks associated with online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from such predatory behavior.