Congleton man sentenced to four and a half years for involving child in sexual communications
Joshua Brookes jailed for offences involving an 11-year-old girl
A 21-year-old from Congleton has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually exploiting an 11-year-old girl through online communications.
Joshua Brookes was sentenced on 19th February 2026 at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple offences, including making indecent images of a child.
Cheshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) conducted an investigation, revealing online sexual activity between Brookes and a child.
On 30th July 2024, Brookes was arrested, and digital devices belonging to him were seized and examined by forensic teams.
The investigation uncovered threatening messages sent by Brookes to manipulate the girl into sending sexualised images of herself. He threatened to share the images with her acquaintances and made threats of self-harm and sexual assault.
Nearly 30 indecent images were found across Brookes’ devices.
The victim, identified as an 11-year-old girl, confirmed Brookes' coercion and threats.
Despite Brookes' refusal to cooperate during police interviews, he was charged with the offences.
Alongside his prison sentence, Brookes was given a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Constable Anna Hull of CID Reactive North said:
“Firstly, I would like to commend the victim in this case, whose help has been invaluable in securing this conviction against Joshua Brookes. Despite her young age, the bravery and courage she has shown in coming forward and speaking to police about the ordeal has been nothing short of inspiring.
Brookes used fear and intimidation to manipulate his victim, a vulnerable child, making her feel guilty for not wanting to feed into his warped sexual fantasies. I am very glad to see that he has been handed a lengthy custodial sentence, which will, hopefully, allow the victim in this case and her family to begin to move on from this extremely alarming incident.
Even when Brookes is eventually released from prison in 2030, he will be under continual monitoring under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, ensuring he will never cause harm to another vulnerable child again.”