LEON WALMSLEY FROM KENT SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN RAMSGATE
A man described as 'dangerous' by the court has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after committing a severe sexual assault in Ramsgate, Kent.Leon Walmsley, aged 25, carried out the attack shortly after his release from prison in August 2022, raising serious concerns about his ongoing risk to the public.
According to the proceedings at Canterbury Crown Court, Walmsley's victim endured a brutal assault that left her with multiple bruises on her head and body, alongside significant psychological trauma.
The court was told that Walmsley, of Hertford Place in Ramsgate, admitted to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
However, he denied the more serious charge of assault by penetration, a denial that was ultimately rejected by the jury, which found him guilty.
The court heard disturbing details of the assault, including that Walmsley repeatedly struck his victim with an object, which eventually broke during the attack.
He then used the broken item to sexually assault her, an act that compounded her suffering.
The victim's impact statement, read during the sentencing, described her as being left 'terrified and paranoid' following the ordeal, highlighting the profound and lasting effects of the attack.
At the sentencing hearing on April 5, Recorder David Elvin KC emphasized the gravity of Walmsley's actions, describing him as a 'dangerous' offender under the law.
The judge stated that Walmsley would be required to serve at least two-thirds of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole.
Additionally, once released, he would face an extended period of supervision, with three more years added to any license period.
Recorder Elvin also criticized Walmsley's history of offending, noting that he had been involved in criminal activity since the age of 18.
His record includes two previous recalls to prison while on license for earlier convictions, demonstrating a pattern of repeated offending and a failure to address his issues.
The judge remarked that Walmsley had shown an 'inability and unwillingness to learn from his past' and lacked insight into his own serious problems.
Further scrutiny was given to Walmsley's conduct during the trial and his interactions with the pre-sentence report author.
The judge described him as 'deceitful' and a significant risk to public safety.
Walmsley's manner during court proceedings was characterized as 'calm, controlled, and polite,' but the judge suggested this was a calculated attempt to gain favor with the jury, indicating manipulative tendencies.
As part of his sentence, Walmsley will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements upon his release, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community in Kent and beyond.
