He was told: ‘You should be utterly ashamed of yourself’
Sex offender Joshua McBride(Image: Hull Live)
A sleeping young woman “freaked out” in horror when she suddenly woke up to find a drunken man taking advantage of her during a “very serious sexual assault”. The shocked victim asked him in sheer panic what he was doing and she told him to get out.
She was later upset to discover a high-spirited video of him joking about the incident with others. She was left “devastated” by what happened and her life had been “turned upside down” by her ordeal, Hull Crown Court heard.
Joshua McBride, 21, admitted causing a person to engage in sexual activity during an incident in Hull on September 15, 2024. The case was originally listed for trial in November after he earlier denied the matter and elected trial by jury.
Hannah Turner, prosecuting, said that McBride tried to kiss the woman while they were both at a property in Hull in the early hours but she pushed him away. She fell asleep but later woke up and felt pain in her mouth.
She saw that McBride had his fingers in her mouth as though he were trying to prise her jaw open. He was “controlling her hand” and moving it on his body.
“As soon as she realised what was happening, she freaked out,” said Miss Turner. The woman asked him: “What the f*** are you doing?” – and she quickly leapt up.
“She told him that he needed to leave,” said Miss Turner. Another person helped to get McBride to leave the property. She made a complaint about what happened to her.
The woman later said that, since the incident, her life had been “turned upside down” and she became fearful that McBride might return. She suffered panic attacks and her mental health “deteriorated massively” after the incident.
She felt fatigued and had to take medication. McBride’s actions had affected the lives of her and her family.
She claimed that she saw a video of McBride and others joking about the incident. “I felt that McBride was very dismissive of his actions,” she said. “I feel I have been violated.”
In a later statement, the woman said that things had improved and she was feeling a lot better. Her panic attacks had reduced a lot and she had finished therapy but she remained tearful when she thought about what happened.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that McBride had no previous convictions. “This is the first time that he has ever been in trouble with the police and I can confidently say that it will be the last,” said Miss Scott.
“He was immature at the time of the offending but he is now showing true maturity in the way that he is dealing with the offence. He has reflected very maturely on his offending.
“The defendant had very little memory of what went on that evening. He pleaded guilty and he apologises for how late that was.”
McBride had said: “I would never want to seek to make an excuse for what I did. I feel deep shame and regret for the mistake I made.” Miss Scott added: “This wasn’t a mistake. This was criminal behaviour.
“This has given him the shock of his life. He never wants to be here again.”
McBride was a member of two football teams and he was on the board of directors for one of them, responsible for club finances. He played for a cricket team, volunteered at football and cricket events and worked in the transport department of a council.
Recorder Andrew Dallas said that McBride showed “belated remorse” and his position was “That’s not the sort of thing I would do” until the morning of the scheduled trial. McBride was “eight out of 10 drunk” according to him during what was a “very serious sexual assault” on the woman.
“You knew that she was drunk and was not in any position to consent to what you were doing,” said Recorder Dallas. “You have fought this case through to the morning of your trial in November last year, when she was poised to give evidence and suffering anxiety and stress.
“She was devastated by what you did to her and how you acted afterwards and it has had profound consequences for her. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself.”
McBride, of Manor Rise, Reepham, near Lincoln, was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, 180 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £1,630 costs and was given a 10-year restraining order. He must register as a sex offender for 10 years.