LESLEY FINCH SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR ABUSE IN ABBEY WOOD AND FALMOUTH

In a case that has shocked the communities of Abbey Wood and Falmouth, Leslie Finch, a 49-year-old man, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving young girls. The offences spanned over a five-year period, from May 2001 to October 2006, during which Finch targeted children aged between nine and 14 in the Abbey Wood area.

The gravity of Finch’s crimes was revealed during the court proceedings, where his solicitor, Terry Eastwood, stated that Finch himself wished for a lengthy sentence. Eastwood explained that Finch hoped that a substantial prison term would help the victims and their families find some measure of closure after the traumatic experiences they endured.

Throughout the investigation, Finch was initially at large, having fled when police began their inquiries. However, his escape was short-lived. Following a televised appeal, authorities successfully located and arrested him in Falmouth. The arrest marked a significant breakthrough in the case, bringing Finch into custody to face justice.

During the court proceedings, Finch pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including raping a child under 16 and committing three counts of indecent assault against a child under 16. He also admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child under 13 on two occasions, as well as three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16. Additionally, Finch confessed to possessing three indecent photographs of children, further compounding his charges.

As part of his sentence, Finch was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and received a lifelong ban from working with children. The sentencing took place at Truro Crown Court on April 4, where the judge emphasized the severity of Finch’s crimes and the need to protect the community from such offenders in the future.