DENNIS LECKEY FROM ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE AND OLDHAM LIVES NEAR CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS DESPITE HIS PAST CRIMES

In a disturbing development, Dennis Leckey, a convicted sex offender with a history of abusing young boys, is currently residing in a bail hostel located in Oldham, just a short distance from several playgrounds and a primary school in Ashton-under-Lyne. Despite serving a lengthy prison sentence for his heinous crimes, Leckey has been released and is now free to move around the area, which is densely populated with children and families.

Leckey, aged 61, was released after serving nine years for multiple charges related to child sexual abuse. His current residence in Oldham places him within a few minutes' walk of seven playgrounds, including one that is only a 27-second walk away from his bail hostel. Additionally, a primary school nearby, which educates approximately 200 children aged between three and eleven, is also within a minute's reach. This proximity raises serious concerns among local residents about the safety of children in the vicinity.

Notably, Leckey, a former education welfare officer who betrayed the trust placed in him, is permitted to leave the bail hostel at will during daytime hours. Witnesses and local observers have reported seeing him wandering freely around the area, often unmonitored. One onlooker remarked, “Whether he goes for a stroll or takes the bus to go shopping, he always has his laptop with him. He seems to come and go as he pleases.”

Concerned residents have also reported sightings of Leckey lurking near playgrounds while children are playing on swings and climbing frames. His presence in such close proximity to areas frequented by children has sparked alarm among community members who fear for their safety.

Leckey’s disturbing past was publicly revealed during his trial at Manchester Crown Court in 1997. It was during this trial that the extent of his depravity was laid bare. Prosecutors detailed how he had taken young boys, some as young as nine, on foreign holidays, camping trips, and had given them expensive gifts as part of his grooming process. He would then lure these boys back to his home in Ashton-under-Lyne, where further abuse occurred.

Prosecutor Susan Klonin described how the boys would visit Leckey’s house for tea and sometimes stay overnight. During these visits, Leckey would engage in acts of sexual assault, often in a single bed, with some of the boys recounting how he would touch them inappropriately during the night. Evidence also included albums containing photographs of the victims, as well as diaries and poems that court described as “chronicles of lust.”

One of Leckey’s victims publicly stated, “That monster has ruined my life,” highlighting the lasting impact of his crimes. Following his conviction, Leckey was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being found guilty of 15 charges of indecent assault and three counts of serious sexual assault.

Judge Peter Fish addressed Leckey directly during sentencing, saying, “It is difficult to find the appropriate words to indicate the extent of the damage you have done to such a large number of young people. You have betrayed not a bit of emotion or remorse.”

Leckey’s current residence in a bail hostel, which functions similarly to an open prison and is intended to aid in the resettlement of prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, has raised significant concerns among local communities. Many residents fear that his presence so close to playgrounds and schools poses a serious risk to children’s safety and well-being.