BRISTOL MAN LEIGHTON GENT SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE ABUSE

A man from Bristol has been sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing online offences involving children. Leighton Gent, aged 28, pleaded guilty to a total of 15 criminal charges related to the exploitation and abuse of minors through digital platforms. In addition to admitting guilt on these counts, Gent requested that dozens of other sexual offences be taken into account during his sentencing, highlighting the extent of his alleged misconduct.

Gent’s arrest took place at his residence in Bedminster, Bristol, in July 2024. The police, specifically officers from the Internet Child Abuse Team, acted on intelligence indicating that Gent had uploaded indecent images of children to the internet and had engaged in sexual communications with minors under the age of 15. The investigation involved a detailed forensic analysis of Gent’s electronic devices, which uncovered a disturbing pattern of activity. It was revealed that Gent had used multiple online platforms to communicate sexually with dozens of children from various parts of the world, fully aware that these individuals were underage.

The forensic examination also uncovered a staggering collection of over 5,000 indecent images and videos stored on Gent’s devices, further illustrating the severity of his actions. During court proceedings, Gent admitted to several serious offences, including four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of creating indecent images of children—covering categories A through C—and three counts of distributing such images across different categories. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, as well as possession of extreme pornographic material, prohibited images of a child, and charges related to arranging and facilitating child sexual offences.

Furthermore, Gent requested that 29 additional counts, all related to attempting to communicate sexually with minors, be considered in his case. The court sentenced him last week to a term of six years and eight months in prison. As part of his sentence, Gent was also subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which aims to restrict his future conduct and protect the public from potential harm. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies in Bristol to combat online child exploitation and highlights the serious consequences faced by those who engage in such heinous activities.