A child molester’s, Joshua Fowler Whittlesey Paedophile, efforts to groom adolescent females online were obstructed when he was apprehended twice by undercover investigators.
Joshua Fowler, 27, communicated with an individual he presumed to be a 14-year-old girl using the Kik instant messaging application in November and December 2023, according to Cambs police.
A spokesperson for the force stated: “Notwithstanding the ‘girl’, who was in fact an undercover police officer, indicating her age, Fowler’s messages were wholly sexual in nature.”
Joshua Fowler additionally transmitted a video of himself engaging in a sexual act at his residence, accompanied by images of his genitalia.
He additionally emphasised his admiration for observing adolescent ladies in their school uniforms.
Joshua Fowler was apprehended in early 2024, and his phone was confiscated and examined, revealing the presence of obscene photographs of children: one category C image and five category A images, the most egregious classification.
Data from the phone indicated that Fowler participated in multiple group chats dedicated to the dissemination of child sexual assault material. Additionally, the tablet had four explicit pornographic photographs depicting adults engaged in sexual acts with animals.
During the police interrogation, Joshua Fowler, residing on Coronation Avenue in Whittlesey, Peterborough, responded with no remark to all enquiries.
He was released on bail pending further investigation and was due to be charged with the offences in November last year.
The spokesperson went on: “However during this time on bail, Fowler went on to use Kik and Snapchat to speak to another 14-year-old girl – but this was in reality a second undercover officer.
“This began in late October and the conversation soon became sexual once again – with Fowler trying to get the girl to perform a sex act.”
Joshua Fowler was arrested a second time and charged and remanded in relation to the conversations with both girls, with offences including:
- Two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child
- Attempting to incite/cause a girl to engage in sexual activity
- Attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity
- Two counts of making indecent images of a child
- Possessing an extreme pornographic image
Joshua Fowler admitted all the offences at a previous court hearing and was sentenced at Huntingdon Law Courts on Friday (17 January), where he was handed a total of four years in prison.
Det Sgt Jonathan Lockwood said: “Mobile phones and social media mean children can be vulnerable to those who prey on their innocence and exploit their trust. In this case, Joshua Fowler was stopped and arrested thanks to the work of undercover officers.
“Not content with being arrested for some serious allegations, Joshua Fowler then was caught for a second time and had clearly failed to learn his lesson.
“Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we will continue to work tirelessly to keep them safe.”
Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk, can apply for disclosure information through Sarah’s Law which the police will never ever give you but you will get a platitude and excuse why you cannot have the information.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.