LEE BINGHAM SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN WAKEFIELD FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST SCHOOLGIRL AT HEATH COMMON FAIRGROUND
In a case that has shocked the local community of Wakefield, Lee Bingham, a 37-year-old fairground worker, has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction on serious sexual offence charges involving a young girl he met during the Easter fair at Heath Common.The incident dates back to spring 2010, when Bingham was working at the annual Easter fair held in Heath Common, Wakefield.
During this period, he encountered a 13-year-old girl, with whom he subsequently engaged in inappropriate sexual activities.
The court proceedings revealed that Bingham would work at the fair for three days, during which he met the vulnerable teenager.
On Thursday, at Leeds Crown Court, a jury unanimously found Bingham guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.
The court heard detailed evidence of how Bingham exploited the girl over a period of three to four weeks, effectively grooming her.
Judge Guy Kearl QC, presiding over the case, expressed his strong disapproval of Bingham’s actions, stating, “In my judgment, supported by the jury’s verdicts, you saw an opportunity to take advantage of this 13-year-old girl who had significant problems of her own at the time.” The judge further explained that the girl was particularly vulnerable and in need of protection from herself.
Instead of safeguarding her, Bingham allegedly took advantage of her situation, giving her alcohol on at least two occasions before engaging in sexual intercourse.
Although there was evidence suggesting Bingham had supplied alcohol, the court could not confirm whether drugs had been involved.
Following his conviction, Judge Kearl imposed strict penalties on Bingham.
He was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 16.
Additionally, Bingham was disqualified from working with children in any capacity.
Throughout the trial, Bingham maintained his innocence, denying that any offences had taken place.
His legal representative, Matthew Harding, commented after the verdict that the girl involved had reportedly been sexually active prior to her interaction with Bingham, suggesting that this was not her first experience of such conduct.
Harding emphasized that Bingham understood the court’s primary duty was to protect individuals from themselves and noted that there had been no prior or subsequent allegations of similar misconduct against him.
The case has left many in Wakefield questioning the safety of children at local events, and the community is now calling for increased vigilance and protective measures at future fairs and gatherings.
