IAN LECKEY FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLS JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES DESPITE BEING ON REGISTER

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of children, Ian Leckey, a resident of Broadwater Down in Tunbridge Wells, has been sentenced to prison once again after committing serious sexual offences against minors. Despite being a registered sex offender, Leckey managed to secure a part-time position as an activity instructor working with young people, raising questions about the effectiveness of safeguarding procedures and background checks.

Leckey, who was previously convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in 1999 for sex offences involving boys, did not cease his offending behavior after his initial incarceration. Instead, he continued to pose a threat to children, which culminated in his recent conviction. This week, at Maidstone Crown Court, Leckey pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, as well as a charge of meeting a child following sexual grooming. The court subsequently sentenced him to an additional two and a half years behind bars.

The court proceedings revealed that Leckey had managed to find employment at a school in West Kent, where he was involved in a series of activities with students. It was clarified that Leckey was not directly employed by the school but was brought in as a substitute instructor. The regular instructor, who had been running a weekly one-hour activity session at the school for several years, was unable to work during the summer months, leading the school to send Leckey as a temporary replacement.

However, the school’s safeguarding procedures were found to be lacking. Although the school had conducted background checks on the primary instructor, they failed to carry out the necessary checks on Leckey before allowing him to work with children. The headteacher of the school expressed regret over this oversight, stating, “Leckey came in for a number of sessions over the bulk of the term. We accept we should have carried out our checks as well. We very much regret, due to an oversight, we did not do so. We were open about this with all agencies involved from the very earliest stages of the investigation.”

Further concerns arose in June when a member of the local community approached the school with worries about Leckey’s conduct outside of school activities. The individual expressed concerns regarding Leckey’s interactions with young people during activities unrelated to the school setting. Once these concerns were raised, the school promptly notified the police and advised the West Kent Children’s Safeguarding Unit to investigate the matter thoroughly.

During sentencing, Judge Phillip Statman described Leckey as a predatory and manipulative individual, emphasizing the ongoing risk he posed to children. As a result, the judge imposed a lifelong ban on Leckey working with children, underscoring the seriousness of his offenses and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from individuals with a history of sexual misconduct.