LEIGHTON MURRAY AND TYLAR NEILSON BRUTAL SEX TRAFFICKING IN LEICESTER AND DERBY REVEALED

In a disturbing case uncovered in November 2016, a teenage girl was subjected to horrific exploitation orchestrated by two men, Leighton Murray and Tylar Neilson, in the cities of Leicester and Derby. The girl, described as vulnerable and in care, was manipulated and coerced into a life of sexual servitude under the guise of a romantic relationship. Murray, aged 31 and currently held at HMP Nottingham, was responsible for arranging her relocation from Leicester to Derby under false pretenses, claiming they were a couple to facilitate his sinister plans.

Once in Derby, Murray took further steps to entrench her exploitation. He created an online identity for her on a dating website called 'Adult Work,' effectively turning her into a prostitute. The girl was forced to engage in sexual acts with strangers in a hotel room, with Murray controlling every aspect of her activities. Prosecutor Christopher Geeson detailed the extent of her abuse, stating, "There was violence, threats of violence, psychological abuse and degrading sexual activity of a victim that was passed around to different customers."

Further compounding her suffering, Murray paid her an additional £50 each time she engaged in unprotected sex, exposing her to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. The girl was subjected to a range of distasteful and degrading acts, far beyond ordinary sex, which Murray demanded from her. The exploitation was systematic, with Murray exploiting her for financial gain over several months, and on at least one occasion, physically assaulting her.

In addition to his crimes against the teenage girl, Murray also pimped two adult women who were already involved in prostitution. His manipulation extended over a period of months, further illustrating the extent of his criminal activities. The court heard that Murray’s actions were driven by greed and a desire to control, with the victim being used and abused under threats and coercion.

Tylar Neilson, who met Murray while they were both incarcerated, played a facilitating role in the exploitation. Neilson, a Leicester resident, was responsible for transporting the teenage girl from Leicester to Derby, fully aware of her intended use as a prostitute. Neilson pleaded guilty to one count of arranging or facilitating child exploitation for his involvement between December 12 and 15, 2015.

Judge’s remarks highlighted the severity of the crimes, condemning Murray for organizing the girl’s activities, taking significant sums of money from her, and encouraging unprotected sex because of her age. Neilson’s role was seen as aiding and abetting the exploitation, knowing full well the consequences of his actions.

Murray was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, while Neilson received a sentence of eight months. The case underscores the brutal reality of sexual exploitation and trafficking, with authorities emphasizing the importance of vigilance and intervention to protect vulnerable individuals from such heinous crimes.