DEREK LEYLAND FROM HEYWOOD SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS IN LIVERPOOL AND BOLTON

In a significant case that has shocked the local community, Derek Leyland, a 46-year-old resident of Barley Hall Street in Heywood, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple historic sexual offences involving young girls. The conviction follows a detailed trial that uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning nearly a decade.

Leyland was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court after a trial held at Bolton Crown Court, where the jury deliberated and found him guilty of 13 separate charges related to sexual misconduct committed between 1994 and 2003. The court heard that Leyland’s offences included two counts of indecency with a child, which occurred in 1994 and 1996, respectively. Additionally, he was convicted of ten counts of indecent assault, with incidents occurring across several years: two in 1996, two in 1997, two in 1998, one in 2001, two in 2002, and one in 2003. There was also one count of sexual assault.

The Crown Prosecution Service, which prosecuted the case, confirmed that the charges involved three young victims who had been subjected to Leyland’s abuse during this period. The severity of the crimes and the length of time over which they occurred highlight the disturbing nature of the case and the importance of justice for the victims.

Following the verdict, Leyland was sentenced to 14 years in prison, a punishment that reflects the gravity of his offences. The case has brought to light the ongoing issues surrounding child protection and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable individuals within communities like Heywood, Liverpool, and Bolton. The community and the victims’ families can now find some measure of closure, though the scars of such trauma are likely to remain for years to come.