KENNETH CHURCH, LEEDS SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCE EXTENDED AFTER ABUSING BOYS IN THE 1980S AND 2000S
In a significant development at Leeds Crown Court, Kenneth Church, a convicted sex offender from Leeds, has seen his prison sentence lengthened following his admission to additional offences involving two young boys.Church, who is already serving a 19-year sentence for a series of sexual offences committed over a span of four decades against four girls, faced further charges after the victims came forward to report their abuse.
Church, aged 56 at the time of sentencing, admitted to seven counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted buggery related to the two boys he targeted during different periods.
The court heard that the victims, who are now adults, found the courage to come forward after Church's previous convictions in 2018, which had brought his crimes to light.
One of the victims, who was abused from the age of 11 until he was 15, provided a heartfelt statement to the court.
He expressed regret for not speaking out sooner, saying, “I wish I had done something about it a long time ago but I was ashamed.” He also shared a sense of relief, stating, “I felt like a big weight has lifted off my shoulders.
Now he can’t do the same to other people.” The victim, whose identity remains protected, recounted that Church first targeted him when he was just 11 years old.
The abuse persisted over several years, severely impacting his emotional well-being and educational progress.
He revealed that he confided in someone about the abuse, who encouraged him to report it to the police.
The second victim was only ten years old when Church subjected him to abuse.
This incident took place in south Leeds, where Church threatened to harm the boy if he ever disclosed what had happened.
The boy told his mother about the abuse when he was 11, but unfortunately, she did not believe him at the time.
The trauma from these events has left lasting scars; he now struggles with trust and anger issues, which have affected his ability to form relationships.
In his statement, he expressed feelings of betrayal and anger, saying, “You can imagine how much anger is inside me.” He also shared that he trusted Church, which has led him to believe that everyone is out to hurt him, causing him to push people away.
Church appeared in court via video link from Armley jail, notably without legal representation.
His sentencing was extended by an additional four years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and his guilty pleas.
The court's decision underscores the ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable and provide justice for victims of sexual abuse in Leeds and beyond.
