Thug back to court and jailed for three years

A violent teenager who escaped jail after he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and beat her toddler son has now been locked up by senior judges.

Joshua Ingram, from Grimsby, subjected his former partner and her two-year-old son to a terrifying three hour ordeal in their own home.

Armed with a knife, the 18-year-old slammed the child’s head into a wall and threatened to throw him out of a window and repeatedly told them they would be killed.

Joshua Ingram (pictured grinning outside court in October) was spared jail by a judge at Grimsby Crown Court in October last year – but he was sentenced to three years in a young offenders’ institute by judges sitting at the Court of Appeal in London today

It later emerged that Ingram posted a sick Facebook post as he sat in court waiting to be sentenced

JUDGE’S SCATHING COMMENTS TO THUG

Lady Justice Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Garnham and Judge Wendy Joseph QC, said Ingram had shown ‘no remorse’ and instead continued to protest his innocence and to indulge in ‘victim blaming’ on social media, even after being sentenced.

The judge added: ‘In our view, the sentence did not reflect the seriousness of this offending and was unduly lenient.

‘This was a serious case of its kind and we consider an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable.

‘Both mother and her child were vulnerable and they were effectively held captive in their home, a place where they should have been safe, for a long period, during which time threats to kill both of them were made repeatedly and in venomous terms.

‘She was undoubtedly terrified. She believed the threats would be carried out.

‘The use of a knife was in itself a significant aggravating feature of this offending, since it gave an immediacy and credibility to the threats.

‘We have regard to his age and relative immaturity and the fact this will be his first immediate custodial sentence.

‘Balancing the features of aggravation and mitigation, we consider the correct sentence, after credit for plea, is one of three years’ detention in a young offenders’ institution.’

The mother believed they were both going to die and used her own body to shield her son from further attack during the incident.

He was spared jail by a judge at Grimsby Crown Court in October last year and instead given a two-year suspended sentence after admitting making threats to kill, common assault and damaging property.

But he was sentenced to three years in a young offenders’ institute by judges sitting at the Court of Appeal in London today, who said the original term was ‘unduly lenient’.

The ruling came after the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC asked for the sentence to be increased.

It later emerged that Ingram posted a sick Facebook post as he sat in court waiting to be sentenced.

The abusive post, which appeared to be directed at his victim was published at 12.48pm from the court building, and said: “Hahaha what a trampy liarr, still laughinggg like alwaysss (sic).”

The court heard during the terrifying ordeal, Ingram became agitated at the little boy, pushing his head against a wall and telling the mother: ‘You watch, I’m going to go mad’.

He then placed a pillow over the mother’s head, telling the terrified child: ‘I’m going to kill your mummy and you will be left with no one’.

Ingram then started to damage property in the living room before following her upstairs and taking her phone so she could not call the police.

Eventually, he left, telling the woman to leave her door unlocked as he would be back later.

Lady Justice Sharp told the court the incident had a lasting and profound effect on the mother, who was forced to move from her home.

The ruling came after the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC asked for Ingram’s sentence to be increased

Acting on behalf of Ingram, Richard Hackfath argued that the sentence was appropriate, given the fact he is ‘significantly immature’ for an 18-year-old.

But Lady Justice Sharp said the original judge was not helped by a probation report as it was based on an account in which Ingram minimised what he did.

A subsequent report based on a true account of the events assessed Ingram as a ‘high risk of causing serious harm’ in the future.

A probation officer said he was unable to manage his aggression and lacked empathy and understanding of the seriousness of his crime.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Buckland said: ‘This young man’s violent temper left a defenceless child and mother fearing for their lives.

‘The original sentence failed to take proper account of the seriousness of the offence.

‘I’m pleased the court has seen fit to impose an immediate custodial sentence and I hope it brings some comfort to the victim.’

Ingram was ordered to hand himself in at Grimsby Police Station by 6pm on Wednesday.

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