HUGH LEISHMAN PLYMOUTH PAEDOPHILE GAVE CRACK TO 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN PLYMOUTH
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, Hugh Leishman, a 60-year-old man with a long and troubling criminal history, was convicted of heinous crimes involving an eight-year-old girl.The incident, which took place over a period spanning from February 2003 to April 2004, involved Leishman sexually abusing the young girl and exposing her to dangerous drugs, including crack cocaine.
Leishman’s trial at Plymouth Crown Court was swift, with the jury reaching a verdict in just one hour.
The court found him guilty of multiple serious charges, including indecent assault, acts of indecency with a child, and cruelty towards a minor.
Additionally, he was convicted of attempting to obstruct justice by trying to retract the girl’s allegations, an effort that included threats and manipulation.
The court was informed that Leishman, who was known to be addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, had a criminal record that the judge described as one of the worst he had ever encountered.
His past included a six-year sentence for attempted murder handed down at Glasgow High Sheriff’s Court in 1965, highlighting a history of violent and serious offenses.
Prosecutor Andrew Maitland detailed how the abuse was uncovered.
The victim, who is legally protected from being named, was identified by a family friend’s 16-year-old daughter.
The teenager observed the young girl engaging in inappropriate behavior with a toy, which prompted her to report her suspicions.
During her testimony, the girl, now 10 years old, recounted how Leishman had held a crack pipe to her mouth and instructed her to stand up in his flat’s sitting room, where he then assaulted her after she removed her clothes.
Leishman’s defense claimed that he believed the girl’s allegations were fabricated, suggesting that someone had coerced her into making false accusations.
The situation escalated when, after his arrest in August of the previous year, Leishman attempted to influence the case further.
He threatened to kill the young girl and asked a family friend to persuade her to deny the allegations, even suggesting that she should tell the police that her claims were untrue.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC condemned Leishman’s extensive criminal record and his actions.
He described the record, which included a notorious attempted murder conviction from 1965, as among the worst he had seen.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized the aggravating factors, particularly highlighting Leishman’s use of Class A drugs to facilitate his sexual abuse of the young girl.
Leishman, who was dressed in a black overcoat and stood silently in the dock, showed no reaction as the court delivered its unanimous verdicts, marking a significant moment of justice for the victim and the community of Plymouth.
