SALFORD MAN LEON RUSHTON SENTENCED FOR SHOCKING SEX OFFENSES AND FILMING VICTIMS IN HIS HOME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Salford, Greater Manchester, Leon Rushton, a 27-year-old man, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of filming himself committing indecent acts on women while they were asleep. The heinous nature of his crimes was uncovered after a series of investigations revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior involving hidden cameras and explicit recordings.

Rushton’s criminal activities extended beyond the initial assault. It was discovered that he had installed a concealed camera in his bathroom, which he used to secretly record women as they used the toilet. The extent of his voyeuristic tendencies was uncovered when one of his girlfriends, who had been in a relationship with him in 2000, woke up to find him assaulting her. This incident prompted her to contact the police, setting in motion a series of events that would expose Rushton’s dark secret.

The following day, Emily Harvey, a 23-year-old woman who had previously dated Rushton, came across a videotape that showed him carrying out the assault. Miss Harvey, who chose to waive her right to anonymity, immediately reported the incident to law enforcement authorities. The police investigation uncovered a staggering collection of evidence—approximately 300 videos amounting to up to 3,000 hours of footage—depicting Rushton engaging in similar acts on other women at his flat located on Manchester Road West in Little Hulton.

Emily Harvey recounted her experience with Rushton, describing him as an unusual individual. She revealed that Rushton was not her typical type, characterizing him as a “pretty boy” with an unhealthy obsession with Manchester United footballer David Beckham. She explained that she confronted Rushton about the videos, and he denied any wrongdoing, even promising to destroy the recordings after she discovered them. However, her suspicions grew when she found other disturbing material while searching his belongings when he was out. This “other stuff” included a collection of videos and photographs that she described as “sickening.”

Harvey expressed her deep concern for others, especially noting her relief that her own daughter was not involved. She expressed heartbreak over the fact that Rushton had committed acts involving young children, which she found particularly appalling. Her feelings of disgust intensified when she saw Rushton, who appeared “cocky” in court, and she voiced her desire for him to suffer the consequences of his actions and for such crimes to be prevented in the future.

Another victim, a woman who cannot be publicly identified due to legal restrictions, initially refused to believe the bizarre allegations until she was shown the videos by detectives. It was revealed that one of Rushton’s victims was a young child, who was one of the women he had assaulted. The victim, a single mother of two, described Rushton’s obsession with Beckham as the only unusual aspect of his personality. She recounted that Rushton believed he was David Beckham, copying his hairstyle and mannerisms, and even went out one night wearing a sarong, mimicking the football star’s style.

Rushton pleaded guilty to six charges of indecent assault, eleven counts of taking photographs of children, and one charge of showing an indecent photograph of a child. During sentencing, Judge Stuart Fish described the offenses as “appalling” and ordered Rushton to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, emphasizing the severity and depravity of his crimes. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Salford, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable individuals from such predatory behavior.