KEVIN GLEESON OF IRTHLINGBOROUGH SENTENCED IN NORTHAMPTON FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE

A man described as a "dangerous predator" has been sentenced to eight years in prison for historic sexual assaults on two young girls. Kevin Gleeson, 67, from Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, was convicted after the victims came forward to police about abuse that took place over twenty years ago.

Gleeson, who resides on Straws Close in Irthlingborough, denied all twelve charges but was found guilty following a trial at Northampton Crown Court. Northamptonshire Police commended the "courage" of the women who reported their abuse.

The court was informed that the victims reported the abuse to police in August 2020. An investigation by the force’s Protecting Vulnerable People department revealed that Gleeson had sexually assaulted one of the children multiple times and had also attacked the other during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Gleeson faced 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a girl under 14. He was convicted on all charges in November and was remanded in custody.

On February 29, 2024, Gleeson appeared before Northampton Crown Court again, where he was sentenced to serve a total of eight years in prison. He will also be required to register on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det. Const. Abigail Kennedy, who led the investigation, said: "Kevin Gleeson's repeated abuse of two young children was abhorrent, and I am very glad that he has received a significant prison sentence which reflects the severity of his offending. The passage of time may have left Gleeson feeling he had got away with what he did, but thanks to the courage of the two survivors who came forward to report him he has now been proven in court to be both a dangerous sexual predator and a liar."