GEORGE LEEDS FROM SAWBRIDGEWORTH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DOWNLOADING CHILD SEX IMAGES IN CHELMSFORD
| Red Rose Database
Sawbridgeworth Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the community of Sawbridgeworth, Geoffrey Leeds, a 65-year-old man, narrowly avoided imprisonment after admitting to the possession and download of indecent images of children. The incident came to light during a police raid at his residence, The Four Acres, where authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of his online activity.
On Thursday at Chelmsford Crown Court, Leeds faced the consequences of his actions. He pleaded guilty to five charges related to the creation and possession of indecent images, some of which depicted children as young as two years old engaged in sexual acts, including penetrative sex. Despite the severity of the images, the court decided to impose a sentence that included an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, meaning Leeds would not serve time unless he reoffends within that period.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Leeds was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service and was placed under a 40-day rehabilitation order aimed at addressing his behaviour. The court also issued a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his access to certain online content and activities, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the same duration.
Judge Christopher Morgan, presiding over the case, expressed his concerns about Leeds’s claims that he had downloaded the worst images by accident. The judge pointed out that Leeds’s internet search history contradicted this assertion, indicating deliberate searches for such material. The judge remarked, “You said you downloaded the worst images by accident, but your search history shows it is to the contrary. You’re a man of 65 who worked until caught for these offences and was of previous good character. You’ve no doubt lost your standing within the community and friends – these are part and parcel of the offences you carried out.”
Further details revealed that police, armed with a search warrant, examined two computers at Leeds’s address. They discovered a total of 136 images categorized at various levels of severity: 12 at the highest level A, 34 at level B, and 90 at level C. The images included children aged between two and five involved in sexual acts with adult males, as well as images depicting penetrative vaginal sex with children aged eight, along with movies of similar content.
Prosecutor Charles Digby explained that Leeds, who previously worked in the insurance industry, was married with children and grandchildren. His online activity was brought to police attention when his wife contacted authorities after discovering his internet browsing. Police responded on June 4 of the previous year, and Leeds was arrested after she called him back from work. During police interviews, Leeds chose to remain silent, offering no comment.
The evidence presented was deeply disturbing. It included images of children as young as two or three years old involved in sexual acts, as well as more explicit material involving older children. The police investigation revealed that Leeds had been visiting these illicit websites regularly, raising serious concerns about his behaviour.
In mitigation, defence lawyer David Baird acknowledged Leeds’s remorse and accepted that his actions were wrong. However, he argued that Leeds did not exhibit signs of underlying sexual deviance and posed a minimal risk of reoffending. Baird highlighted that Leeds had resigned from his job after 27 years, warned his adult children about his activities, and lost friends and his standing in the community. He emphasized that Leeds had always led a law-abiding life prior to this incident.
Furthermore, Baird noted that Leeds’s motivation remained unclear, but mentioned that his wife had been disabled for approximately 25 years and that Leeds himself suffered from a heart condition. Despite the gravity of the case, the court’s decision reflected a balance between punishment and rehabilitation, with Leeds avoiding immediate imprisonment but facing strict legal restrictions and supervision moving forward.
On Thursday at Chelmsford Crown Court, Leeds faced the consequences of his actions. He pleaded guilty to five charges related to the creation and possession of indecent images, some of which depicted children as young as two years old engaged in sexual acts, including penetrative sex. Despite the severity of the images, the court decided to impose a sentence that included an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, meaning Leeds would not serve time unless he reoffends within that period.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Leeds was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service and was placed under a 40-day rehabilitation order aimed at addressing his behaviour. The court also issued a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his access to certain online content and activities, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the same duration.
Judge Christopher Morgan, presiding over the case, expressed his concerns about Leeds’s claims that he had downloaded the worst images by accident. The judge pointed out that Leeds’s internet search history contradicted this assertion, indicating deliberate searches for such material. The judge remarked, “You said you downloaded the worst images by accident, but your search history shows it is to the contrary. You’re a man of 65 who worked until caught for these offences and was of previous good character. You’ve no doubt lost your standing within the community and friends – these are part and parcel of the offences you carried out.”
Further details revealed that police, armed with a search warrant, examined two computers at Leeds’s address. They discovered a total of 136 images categorized at various levels of severity: 12 at the highest level A, 34 at level B, and 90 at level C. The images included children aged between two and five involved in sexual acts with adult males, as well as images depicting penetrative vaginal sex with children aged eight, along with movies of similar content.
Prosecutor Charles Digby explained that Leeds, who previously worked in the insurance industry, was married with children and grandchildren. His online activity was brought to police attention when his wife contacted authorities after discovering his internet browsing. Police responded on June 4 of the previous year, and Leeds was arrested after she called him back from work. During police interviews, Leeds chose to remain silent, offering no comment.
The evidence presented was deeply disturbing. It included images of children as young as two or three years old involved in sexual acts, as well as more explicit material involving older children. The police investigation revealed that Leeds had been visiting these illicit websites regularly, raising serious concerns about his behaviour.
In mitigation, defence lawyer David Baird acknowledged Leeds’s remorse and accepted that his actions were wrong. However, he argued that Leeds did not exhibit signs of underlying sexual deviance and posed a minimal risk of reoffending. Baird highlighted that Leeds had resigned from his job after 27 years, warned his adult children about his activities, and lost friends and his standing in the community. He emphasized that Leeds had always led a law-abiding life prior to this incident.
Furthermore, Baird noted that Leeds’s motivation remained unclear, but mentioned that his wife had been disabled for approximately 25 years and that Leeds himself suffered from a heart condition. Despite the gravity of the case, the court’s decision reflected a balance between punishment and rehabilitation, with Leeds avoiding immediate imprisonment but facing strict legal restrictions and supervision moving forward.