FOLKESTONE PAEDOPHILE LESLIE GIRDLESTONE SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON

In a case that has shocked the community of Folkestone, Leslie Girdlestone, a 71-year-old man with a background as a computer expert, has been handed a severe prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving child abuse. The sentencing took place at Canterbury Crown Court, where the court heard harrowing details of his offenses and the extent of his criminal activities.

Girdlestone, a resident of Cheriton Road in Folkestone, was found guilty of 22 separate sex offenses committed against five young victims. The judge described him as a “wicked” individual who used his technical skills to conceal his crimes, including the downloading and possession of thousands of images from the Internet’s dark web. His actions were characterized by the court as grotesque and deeply disturbing.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that police officers executed a search warrant at Girdlestone’s home, uncovering more than 500 hours of recordings depicting his sickening acts involving children. The evidence presented painted a disturbing picture of a man who not only abused his victims but also documented these acts through video recordings, adding a layer of depravity to his crimes.

Judge Simon James sentenced Girdlestone to 24 years in prison, with an additional six years on license should he ever be released. Under current sentencing guidelines, Girdlestone will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his main sentence before being eligible for parole. However, his release will ultimately depend on the Parole Board’s assessment of whether he still poses a threat to children.

In his remarks, Judge James condemned Girdlestone’s actions, stating, “You seriously sexually abused and raped your victims, leaving them with serious and permanent effects. What makes your offending particularly grotesque was that you filmed many of these acts.” The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes and the impact on the victims, highlighting the disturbing nature of the evidence.

Prosecutor Deborah Charles described Girdlestone’s collection of child pornography as “the worst kind of child pornography,” noting that it depicted degrading acts on very young children. She characterized the material as “the most serious of its type,” underscoring the gravity of his offenses.

Throughout the sentencing, Judge James expressed his disappointment in Girdlestone’s apparent lack of remorse or insight into the harm caused. He remarked that Girdlestone demonstrated an “abject lack of victim empathy” and posed a significant ongoing risk to children.

After ordering Girdlestone to be taken downstairs to begin his sentence, the judge addressed the families of the victims, who sat in the public gallery. He acknowledged the emotional toll of the case, saying, “It is impossible for me not to have been touched by the Victim Impact Statements from the victims and their parents and their sense of anger and concern. I fear there is nothing I can say to alleviate those perfectly understandable emotions.”

He concluded by reassuring the families that the only person guilty of these wicked crimes was Girdlestone himself, and expressed hope that they could now focus on healing and moving forward. The families’ love and resilience, he said, “shine out,” providing a measure of comfort amid the tragedy.