LESLEY DAWSON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ABBEY HULTON, STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Abbey Hulton and the wider Stoke-on-Trent area, Leslie Dawson, a 58-year-old hospital worker, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The incident took place in October 2009, during a night when Dawson was staying at a woman’s house, which was hosting a 'girlie' night with her friend and her daughter.

According to court proceedings, the teenage girl was under the impression that she would be sleeping in the bed, with her mother’s friend sleeping on the floor and Dawson on the settee. However, the situation changed when the woman entered the bed with the girl, followed by Dawson, who positioned himself between them. The court heard that Dawson then engaged in inappropriate and sexual activity with the girl.

Prosecutor Richard Atkins detailed that the girl later told police she observed sexual activity between Dawson and the woman. Subsequently, Dawson turned his attention to the teenager, engaging in indecent assault by touching her inappropriately. The girl estimated that the assault lasted between 10 and 15 minutes. After Dawson ceased his actions, he reportedly told her not to tell anyone, making a comment that “age does not matter” and that it was “just a number.”

The victim reported the incident to the police several days later, expressing feelings of dirtiness and repeatedly washing herself. A medical examination confirmed physical evidence consistent with her account, including a bruise that matched her description of Dawson’s assault.

Initially, Dawson denied any sexual activity with the girl. However, he later pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl between October 28 and October 31, 2009. Dawson, who resides at Castle Grove, Abbey Hulton, was thus convicted of the charges.

During mitigation, Catherine O’Reilly highlighted Dawson’s previously good character, acknowledging his struggles to come to terms with his offending. She expressed that Dawson was remorseful and deeply concerned about the impact of his actions on the girl. She also noted that Dawson had lost his job as a carer at Harplands Hospital in Hartshill, a position that was very important to him. O’Reilly further stated that Dawson had severed ties with his family due to shame and regret.

Despite pleas for a more lenient sentence, such as a suspended term or a community order, Judge Mark Eades sentenced Dawson to twenty-two and a half months in prison. The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order for ten years and mandated that Dawson register as a sex offender for the same period.

Judge Eades emphasized the seriousness of the offence, citing the significant age disparity and the vulnerability of the victim at the time. He stated, “You pleaded guilty to a serious offence of sexual activity with a child. Among the aggravating features are the disparity in age between you and your victim and she was at the time particularly vulnerable.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding minors and the consequences of such heinous acts.