LAWRENCE WALDOCK AND JOHN SEABROOK SHOCK LETCHWORTH WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

In a disturbing series of incidents that have shocked the community of Letchworth, Hertfordshire, two men have been brought to justice for their involvement in serious criminal activities. Lawrence Waldock, a man with no fixed address, was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks in prison following his conviction for aiding a sexual assault on a young girl and assaulting his former partner, Claire Elliott.

The first incident took place on April 7 in a secluded alleyway within Letchworth. A 12-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by law, was walking home when she was approached and cornered by Waldock and John Seabrook, a 58-year-old man from the same town. Seabrook, who had previously pleaded guilty to related charges and was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison in April, played a direct role in the assault. According to court proceedings, Seabrook grabbed the girl’s right arm and kissed it, while Waldock blocked her from progressing further along the alley.

During the court hearing, the girl’s statement was read aloud by prosecutor Rafia Khatun. She recounted that Seabrook had said to her, “you’re beautiful aren’t you. I bet I can guess your age, you’re 15,” while Seabrook was physically assaulting her. The girl described how Waldock, aged 38, was laughing during the incident, and both men appeared to view her as an object, with the girl feeling that she was at risk of being raped. Despite her efforts, she managed to break free and ran home, while the two men whistled and jeered her as she fled.

Waldock denied aiding the sexual assault, pleading not guilty at first. However, after a trial held on August 1, the court found him guilty of the charge. Magistrate Leah Bretton emphasized the gravity of the offence, stating, “This was an extremely serious offence that was carried out by two grown men on a young girl. For this we are going to sentence you to 18 weeks in prison.”

In addition to the sexual assault case, Waldock was convicted of assaulting his former girlfriend, Claire Elliott, in Letchworth on June 1. This assault resulted in a four-week prison sentence, which is to run consecutively with his other sentence. The magistrate also ordered Waldock to register as a sex offender for seven years, impose an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting the 12-year-old girl, and a six-month restraining order to keep him away from Ms. Elliott.

Meanwhile, John Seabrook’s history of anti-social behaviour in Letchworth has led to further legal action. On June 20, 2012, Seabrook, of Campers Avenue, was issued an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) following numerous reports of offensive and threatening conduct in the neighbourhood and town centre. The court heard testimony from twenty witnesses, including residents, local workers, and police officers, who described Seabrook’s disruptive behaviour.

The two-year ASBO explicitly bans Seabrook from using abusive, offensive, threatening, or intimidating language or behaviour that can be seen or heard by others in Campers Avenue. It also prohibits him from consuming alcohol or possessing open containers of alcohol in public places. Additionally, the order restricts his access to Letchworth town centre. Any breach of these conditions could result in fines or imprisonment for up to five years.

Community leaders, including Councillor Tricia Cowley, expressed their support for the court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of protecting residents from such conduct. North Herts Police Anti-Social Behaviour Officer Elizabeth Fountain highlighted the police’s commitment to working closely with the council to ensure public safety and to take robust action against individuals who behave in a drunken or anti-social manner in Letchworth.