COLIN LEACH IN CARDIFF BREACHES SEX OFFENDER ORDER AFTER CHILD ENCOUNTERS
A convicted sex offender, Colin Leach, who is required to register as a sex offender after an incident involving a girl’s bottom at a shopping centre, violated a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by approaching children in public.Leach was subjected to the order following an earlier incident in which he approached a young girl in a library.
The court heard that Leach approached a family in Bute Park and asked if they would like to visit a dinosaur exhibition there.
Judge Neil Bidder QC at Cardiff Crown Court emphasized to Leach, "You have got to keep away from children," as he sentenced him.
Leach, 35, from Aberporth Road in Cardiff, was previously sentenced in April 2011 to nine months in jail, suspended for two years, after sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in Cardiff city centre.
The prosecution’s case revealed that the victim was browsing at Animal in Queens Arcade when Leach approached her from behind, asked her age, then placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on her bottom.
Despite being ordered to sign the sex offender register, Leach broke this requirement just two months later.
In February 2016, Leach approached a girl at a public library while using a computer nearby.
He asked, "What time do you usually come to the library?" and added, "If you get scared, I'll give you a cuddle," when the girl was playing a horror game.
A librarian overheard this and reported the incident to police.
Though Leach was not charged at that time, the Chief Constable sought a Sexual Harm Prevention Order as a precaution.
The latest breach occurred around 1pm on August 14 behind Cardiff Castle in Bute Park, where a woman and her children had just finished a picnic near the dinosaur exhibit.
Leach approached the family and asked if they wanted to see the dinosaurs.
Although the woman permitted her children to enter, she became concerned, suspecting he was not part of the exhibition team.
She contacted security, who advised her to call the police.
Officers attended and spoke with Leach.
Leach admitted to breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order during the court proceedings, which was deemed a violation of the court's restrictions.
