ANTHONY LEACH FROM WIRRAL SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL
In July 2020, Anthony Leach, also known as Anthony Barber, faced serious criminal charges in connection with the sexual abuse of a young girl in the Wirral area.The disturbing case came to light after a woman noticed that the girl appeared unusually withdrawn and reserved, prompting her to inquire about her well-being.
The girl, feeling scared, hesitated but eventually confided that she had something important to tell her.
This revelation led to a series of investigations that uncovered the extent of Leach's misconduct.
During a recorded video interview, the young victim detailed the abuse she suffered at the hands of Leach.
She described how he had repeatedly touched her over and under her clothing and attempted to manipulate her into situations where she would be alone with him.
The girl recounted two specific instances where Leach performed sexual acts on her.
On the first occasion, she felt frightened and told him to stop, which he did, albeit with a sigh that indicated reluctance.
She also described Leach as being somewhat forceful and noted that on a second occasion, he again engaged in inappropriate behavior until she managed to walk away.
The girl further explained that Leach would often put his head in his hands if she did not comply with his demands, which she later recognized as a form of manipulation.
She revealed that Leach had told her to wait until he was dead before revealing what had happened, and he expressed remorse by apologizing for his actions.
However, despite these apologies, the abuse persisted, causing her significant distress.
When police apprehended Leach, they discovered a small quantity of cannabis in his possession, which prosecutors accepted was for personal use.
During police interviews, Leach admitted that the girl’s account was truthful and claimed that he was mentally unwell at the time.
He expressed feelings of disgust and confusion about his actions, stating that he was under a lot of stress and that his drinking lowered his inhibitions.
Leach also acknowledged that he knew his conduct was wrong and apologized multiple times to his victim, attempting to justify his behavior by claiming he was drunk when he committed the sexual act.
Leach further told officers that he had threatened to take his own life and was overwhelmed with shame.
He admitted to crying and feeling embarrassed about what he had done, and he expressed remorse for the pressure he had placed on the young girl.
Despite these admissions, prosecutors argued that his repeated apologies did not reflect genuine remorse, given that the abuse continued over time.
Leach, a resident of Curlew Way, Moreton, Wirral, faced multiple charges including two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and possession of cannabis.
His criminal history included convictions for drug trafficking in his youth, a robbery in 2004, and a wounding incident in 2008, for which he received an extended sentence.
During sentencing, the judge acknowledged Leach’s difficult upbringing and poor start in life but emphasized that he was aware of the wrongfulness of his actions.
The judge noted that although Leach sometimes apologized, the abuse persisted, which cast doubt on the sincerity of his remorse.
Ultimately, Leach was sentenced to four years in prison, with an order for indefinite registration on the Sex Offenders Register and a lifelong restraining order to protect the victim.
The court’s decision aimed to prevent any further harm and to hold Leach accountable for his heinous crimes in the Wirral and Liverpool areas.
