LEON RICHARDSON FROM CAMBRIDGE JAILED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING A TEENAGE BOY

LEON RICHARDSON FROM CAMBRIDGE JAILED FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING A TEENAGE BOY

A convicted paedophile who groomed a teenage boy to engage in sexual acts with his own younger brother has been sentenced to prison.

Leon Richardson, 22, of Mill Road, Cambridge, initiated contact with the schoolboy via social media on 10 October.

The initial messages were innocent, but within a few days, they became sexual in nature.

Richardson sent the boy explicit images and videos of himself and encouraged him to do the same, which the teenager complied with.

Richardson also persuaded the boy to participate in sexual acts with his younger brother; these acts were recorded and sent to him.

Additionally, Richardson requested to meet the teenager under the false pretense of teaching him guitar, continuing the sexual communication over several months.

These messages persisted until 29 December, when the boy’s parents checked his phone after noticing he had become withdrawn and secretive.

Upon discovering the conversations, Richardson visited Parkside Police Station in Cambridge and admitted to the offences.

During police interview, he again confessed and expressed a desire for help.

At Cambridge Crown Court on 29 January, Richardson pleaded guilty to various charges, including: - Engaging in sexual communication with a child - Causing a child aged 13 to 15 to view images of sexual activity - Causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual acts - Causing a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity He was sentenced on 4 April to five years and four months in prison, with an additional three years on licence.

He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which will remain in force indefinitely, to monitor and prevent future offending.

Richardson must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.