A man, Joshua Lovering Cwmbran Rapist, initiated a sequence of horrifying assaults on females. Joshua Lovering, a resident of Cwmbran, made a forceful statement to one of his three victims, stating: “We will engage in sexual activity whether you consent or not.”
According to the proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court, Joshua Lovering, who was 19 years old at the time, singled out an 18-year-old woman as his target after she consumed five to six pints of cider at Pontypool Park. He arranged to stay overnight with her at the Gateway Hotel in Newport.
According to Prosecutor Ruth Smith, Joshua Lovering enquired about purchasing condoms while going to the stores, but the victim declined by saying “No.” Upon his return, Joshua Lovering exhibited aggressive and forceful behaviour, forcefully pushing the victim into the bed and attempting to touch her upper body.
Upon receiving the victim’s request to cease, Joshua Lovering was irritated and proceeded to cover her lips with his hand and place a pillow over her face. She emitted a loud cry for assistance and successfully fled; however, he once again intruded by putting his hand beneath her upper garment and forcefully unfastening her brassiere. She attempted to exit the room, but he positioned himself in her path and forcefully seized hold of her.
Joshua Lovering brandished a knife and positioned it against the victim’s chin, cautioning: “Should you persist in emitting distressing screams, I shall proceed to employ this weapon.” We will engage in sexual intercourse whether you desire it or not.
The victim expressed her want to smoke a cigarette, to which Lovering granted permission for her to go outside. However, he persistently sent her text messages throughout this time. She successfully reached a neighbouring petrol station, and the cops were summoned. Lovering was apprehended by the authorities and confessed to possessing a knife due to his fascination with sharp objects.
The victim expressed in her statement that the occurrence has caused her emotional pain and a sense of betrayal. Joshua Lovering committed a heinous act against me. How can I regain the same level of trust in others that I had before the incident?
During a subsequent assault, Joshua Lovering unlawfully entered a woman’s residence and forcefully propelled her into her couch. Subsequently, he attempted to remove her leggings; however, the victim managed to retaliate by biting him, scratching his face, and delivering a forceful kick. The defendant inserted his thumb into her through her tights.
The plaintiff engaged in a physical altercation with the accused and utilised the phone application Siri to place a call for assistance. He forcibly seized the phone from her and attempted to forcefully remove her clothing, resulting in her falling and sustaining bruising. Lovering departed only when the victim successfully brandished a glass jar as a threat.
Joshua Lovering assaulted another woman at a Travelodge hotel located in the central core of Cardiff. The court was informed that he confined the woman, who was described as “extremely vulnerable,” in a hotel room and coerced her into engaging in sexual activity with him. He utilised his physical prowess to seize her mobile device and menaced her with a blade during a prolonged episode lasting 20 minutes, causing her to weep and tremble in terror.
The victim expressed in her statement that she has experienced heightened anxiety and tension since the occurrence of this incident. When he brandished a knife and confined me to the room, I genuinely believed he intended to impale me and inflict severe harm. I was filled with fear for my survival.
“He possessed significantly greater size and strength in comparison to me.” He lingered in front of the hotel room door for five minutes, but time seemed interminable. I hesitated to vocalise my plea for assistance, fearing that he could abruptly employ the knife on me.
The victim reported experiencing recurring nightmares and, on one occasion, involuntarily struck a wall while dreaming of defending herself against the defendant. She stated: “He poses a significant threat to individuals and poses a particular risk to women.” Joshua is the most intimidating person I have ever encountered.
Joshua Lovering, who is currently 21 years old, admitted to committing the crimes of assault by penetration, affray, sexual assault, and threatening someone with a knife in a private location. The accused, currently incarcerated at HMP Parc in Bridgend, has prior convictions for sexual assault and carrying a knife in a public area. His most recent transgressions have violated a suspended sentence order.
Jeffrey Jones, the defence counsel, argued that his client’s actions should be considered in light of his diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and his limited social abilities. He acknowledged that the defendant is dealing with “grave issues,” but he expresses regret and is “undoubtedly a susceptible individual.”
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke considered Joshua Loverings disorder and young age but concluded that he was a dangerous offender and presented a significant risk of causing severe injury. She pronounced a protracted sentence of 12 years in confinement and an elongated four years for the licence. To be eligible for release, he must serve a minimum of two-thirds of the custody time. In addition, the judge issued restraining orders to safeguard the three victims and a 16-year sexual harm prevention order.
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