LESLEY DEW SENTENCED IN PETERBOROUGH FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN ARMCHAIR
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Peterborough, Leslie Dew, a 65-year-old man with a known history of offenses related to indecent images of children, has been sentenced following a series of disturbing discoveries.The incident came to light after Dew’s former landlord uncovered a USB stick containing thousands of illicit images hidden within an armchair that Dew had left behind.
Leslie Dew had previously been convicted of indecent image offenses in May 2018.
As part of his sentence, he was subjected to a three-year community order and was required to register as a sex offender.
Despite this, the criminal behavior persisted, leading to further investigations and eventual arrest.
The sequence of events began on December 21, 2018, when Dew’s landlord decided to sell the flat he was renting in Peterborough.
The landlord requested Dew to vacate the premises.
Two days later, the landlord visited the flat to check on its condition and noticed a white armchair that Dew had not taken with him.
Suspecting something unusual, the landlord disassembled the chair to give it to a friend, and during this process, a USB stick fell out.
Concerned about the contents, the landlord handed the device over to the police.
Forensic analysis revealed that the USB contained a significant number of indecent images, which had been accessed while Dew was living alone in the flat.
This evidence indicated ongoing possession and viewing of illegal material.
Further investigations led to Dew’s arrest at his new residence in Stanground, Peterborough, on June 14.
During this arrest, authorities discovered additional illicit content on nine CDs.
The total amount of illegal images found on Dew’s devices was staggering: 42 images classified as Category A, the most severe, 59 images in Category B, 2,265 in Category C, and one extreme image.
These categories reflect the severity and nature of the content involved.
On January 22, Dew was re-arrested and remanded to court.
During the court proceedings, he admitted to three counts of making indecent images and possessing an extreme pornographic image.
The case was brought before Peterborough Crown Court, where the sentencing took place on April 16.
In a stern ruling, the court handed Dew a 12-month community order and imposed a five-year term on the Sex Offender’s Register.
Additionally, Dew was ordered to forfeit all devices containing illegal content, which are to be destroyed to prevent further distribution or access to such material.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the possession and distribution of child exploitation images, and the community’s concern over individuals who continue to pose a threat despite previous convictions.
