LEWIS COLCLOUGH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN LEICESTER'S BRAUNSTONE PARK
In December 2014, a young man from Leicester was sentenced to serve a prison term of three years and four months after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in a woodland area.The individual, identified as Lewis Colclough, was 20 years old at the time of the offense and pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a child during a court hearing held in November of the same year.
According to court proceedings, Colclough had initiated contact with the girl through Facebook, where they communicated regularly before exchanging mobile phone messages.
Their online interactions eventually led to a face-to-face meeting in Leicester’s Braunstone Park, a popular recreational area known locally for its wooded sections and open spaces.
During the hearing, Judge Simon Hammond described the sequence of events that transpired during their meeting.
The judge recounted that Colclough took the girl to Braunstone Park, where she expressed feeling cold.
He responded by hugging her, and as they sat together on a park bench, they shared a hug and a kiss.
The situation escalated when Colclough led the girl into a wooded area and instructed her to lie on the ground.
It was at this point that he engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse with her, despite her being a virgin and clearly vulnerable due to her age and possible learning difficulties.
Following the assault, Colclough walked the girl away from the woods and advised her not to disclose what had happened.
However, the girl’s mother eventually discovered the incident, which led to Colclough’s arrest.
Initially, he denied any involvement or wrongdoing, but forensic evidence proved otherwise.
DNA samples taken from the girl’s jeans matched Colclough’s, confirming his presence at the scene.
Judge Hammond emphasized that the offense appeared to be premeditated, noting that Colclough was aware of the girl’s age and deliberately took her into the woods for the purpose of sexual activity.
The court highlighted the vulnerability of the victim, who was described as a girl with learning difficulties, and pointed out the significant six-year age gap between her and Colclough.
The legal protections in place are designed to shield young girls from predators like him, the judge stated.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Hammond also referenced a pre-sentence report which indicated that Colclough lacked insight into the gravity of his actions and tended to portray himself as the victim.
During mitigation, defense lawyer Mary Loran described Colclough as immature beyond his years and emotionally scarred by a troubled childhood.
She explained that his mother abandoned him at his grandmother’s doorstep when he was just 15 years old.
Ms.
Loran further stated that Colclough maintained his guilty plea and recognized the need to address his behavior, expressing remorse and shame for his actions.
She described him as a young man who had made terrible decisions and lacked proper boundaries in life.
She also noted that the victim was initially reluctant to participate in the investigation or to make a formal complaint.
Judge Hammond concluded by emphasizing the importance of understanding sexual boundaries and the need for rehabilitation.
As part of his sentence, Colclough was placed under a sexual offences prevention order for ten years and was required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offenses in the future.
