LEON WARD, CHILD SEX OFFENDER FROM ROTHERHAM, SENT BACK TO PRISON AFTER EARLY RELEASE
In June 2021, Leon Ashley Ward, a convicted child rapist from Rotherham, was reincarcerated just months after being released early from a 16-year prison sentence.Ward, 41, was released in January of the previous year after serving half of his term for raping an eight-year-old girl twice in 2012.
He pleaded guilty on Thursday to breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to notify police of his change of address.
The order prohibited him from deleting his internet history.
Prosecutor Ms.
Fatima Zafar explained that Ward was living at an apartment on Hayfield Walk, Rotherham, when police visited on October 13 to scrutinize his devices.
She stated, “The defendant had a Huawei mobile phone with discrepancies in its internet history.
One entry appeared to be a search about deleting your internet history.” Ward told police he had watched an adult pornography video the night before and had subsequently deleted it.
However, police examined his phone and discovered that his internet history had been deleted and that apps capable of wiping history had been installed on his device, Ms.
Zafar added.
Having a total of 17 convictions for 37 offences, Ward went missing on October 15 after being recalled to prison, because he failed to respond to notification requirements and had “disappeared from his home address,” according to the court.
He was later detained, and during an interview on November 1, he explained to police that he had panicked, “done one,” and deleted two days’ worth of internet history along with some images of children that he claimed were not sexual.
Representing himself at court, Ward offered no additional comments, stating, “I don’t think it would make any difference what I say anyway.” Recorder Anthony Hawks sentenced him to six months in prison for each offence, to run consecutively to his previous sentence.
Addressing Ward, Mr.
Hawks remarked, “You’re a serious sexual offender and therefore these supervisions are extremely important.
But you pleaded guilty and you will now have to serve the remainder, or a significant part, of your 2012 sentence.” At his 2012 sentencing, Ward was described as “obsessed with deviant sex.” He previously resided on Badsley Moor Lane, Clifton.
His convictions at that time included two counts of rape, sexual assault, and possession of child sexual abuse images.
Ward unsuccessfully appealed his 16-year sentence later that same year, with the court ruling that his term was not “manifestly excessive.” In December 2012, the court upheld his 16-year prison term, emphasizing Ward’s obsession with deviant sexual interests.
The case detailed that Ward was arrested after his young victim confided in her family, and authorities found child pornography on his mobile phone along with evidence of visits to inappropriate internet sites, despite his denial of molesting the girl.
