The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Man extorted naked photos from teenager
Accused jailed again after committing offences on bail
A man who threatened underage girls if they did not send him indecent images of themselves was jailed for two years yesterday.
Joshua Pemberton told solicitor advocate Shahid Latif he wanted to go to prison after admitting the offences committed while he was on bail waiting to be dealt with on similar charges.
Last year he was jailed for 27 months but rearrested on his release for the new charges.
Last month Pemberton, formerly of Ruisaurie, but who has since moved to Dumfries, admitted five new charges, including one of extorting naked pictures of a 13-year-old English girl using social media by threatening her with harm.
He also pleaded guilty to sending sexual communications to the teenager and a 12-year-old girl in the Western Isles to induce them to send him indecent images.
Pemberton further admitted threatening to share the photographs with friends while he was on bail and breaching that bail order by communicating with seven different girls under 16.
The offences all occurred between January 3 and January 31 last year.
Mr Latif told Sheriff Margaret Neilson at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday that he was “anxious” about speaking for the 22-year-old because he didn’t agree with his request.
He said: “He has indicated he would prefer to go back to prison. I am internally conflicted.
“However those are my instructions. Normally I would have asked for him not to go to prison. But I can’t do that because of my instructions from him.”
Mr Latif said that a mental health consultant who examined Pemberton believed his autism was “a compelling explanation” for him repeating the crimes within such a short time.
Sheriff Neilson told Pemberton: “After what has been said, I have no other option but to impose a custodial sentence. But I do hope that you try and get the help you need while you are in custody.”
In May last year, Pemberton was imprisoned for 27 months after admitting sexual offences including extorting illegal photos and videos from his victims by threatening harm or to share them with their friends.
“I do hope that you try and get the help you need while in custody”