LEE SALISBURY BRADFORD TELEVISION DIRECTOR SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL COMMUNICATION WITH TEENAGE BOY

A well-known television director from Bradford, who was nominated for a BAFTA, has been sentenced after admitting to sending sexually explicit messages to a teenage boy. The incident highlights a disturbing breach of trust involving a figure from the entertainment industry.

Lee Salisbury, aged 46, who has made significant contributions to popular British soap operas such as Emmerdale and EastEnders, was found guilty of engaging in inappropriate sexual communication with a minor. Salisbury, residing on Tong Lane in Bradford, had initially met the young boy at a film course where he was invited as a guest star, a role that likely contributed to the boy’s admiration for him.

Following their initial meeting, Salisbury began to contact the boy through social media platforms, specifically Instagram. The communication escalated when Salisbury sent a message praising the boy, saying, “Well done mate, you were great,” and inquiring whether he used the Telegram messaging app. The messages soon took a more troubling turn, with Salisbury claiming to have worked with Harry Styles, the famous One Direction star, and even asserting that he had seen Styles naked on multiple occasions.

It was established during the court proceedings that Salisbury was aware of the boy’s age at the time of their exchanges. Evidence revealed that the boy had been searching online for ways to recover deleted Telegram messages and how to make text messages inadmissible in court, indicating an attempt to conceal their communications.

Further conversations included Salisbury asking the boy about his sexuality, whether he slept naked, and sharing that he had seen another boy in his underwear. These exchanges caused significant concern, especially given the context of Salisbury’s professional reputation and the trust placed in him by young fans and aspiring actors.

In a victim impact statement read to Bradford Crown Court, the teenage boy expressed his feelings of betrayal and disappointment. He shared that he had looked up to Salisbury as a role model within the industry, aspiring to become an actor himself. The boy stated, “I looked up to people within the industry like Lee but now I struggle to trust what they say and do,” and added, “None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Lee. It’s made me angry.”

Representing Salisbury, lawyer David Outterside expressed remorse on behalf of his client, emphasizing Salisbury’s desire to apologize fully for his actions. Outterside explained that Salisbury was going through a difficult period, having recently gone through a divorce and battling a long-standing cocaine addiction, which he has since sought treatment for.

In sentencing, the judge, Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC, handed Salisbury a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. The court also mandated that Salisbury complete 150 hours of unpaid community service and attend 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

Additionally, Salisbury, who had no prior criminal record, was prohibited from working with children and vulnerable adults. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next five years, and his name will be entered onto the sex offenders register for a decade. The court ordered Salisbury to pay £2,000 in compensation to the victim and cover £1,000 in legal costs.

This case underscores the importance of safeguarding minors from exploitation, even when the offender is a respected figure in the entertainment industry, and highlights the ongoing efforts of authorities to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.