LEEDS PERVERT MELVIN BLAKE AND LEONARD LAKE SENTENCED FOR ABUSE AT CHILDREN'S HOME
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leeds, a former deputy principal of a local children’s home has been sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison for heinous acts of sexual and violent abuse committed against vulnerable boys in his care.The individual, Melvin Blake, aged 71, was convicted of multiple serious offences related to his time at Shadwell Children’s Home, where he exploited his position of authority to prey on young residents.
Blake’s crimes, which spanned the 1980s, included a series of sexual offences against four boys.
The court heard that Blake used his senior role at the home to manipulate and groom the children, some as young as ten years old, before subjecting them to sexual assaults.
Many of these assaults would now be classified as rape under current legislation, highlighting the severity of his actions.
The Leeds Crown Court was told that Blake’s abuse was not only sexual but also violent in nature.
One of the victims suffered such severe injuries that he required surgery following an assault by Blake.
The court described Blake’s conduct as “scandalous and beyond belief,” emphasizing the profound betrayal of trust involved in his crimes.
Blake was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of buggery.
His crimes have left a lasting scar on the victims and have raised serious concerns about the safeguarding practices at the children’s home during that period.
In addition to Blake’s conviction, the court also sentenced Leonard Lake, aged 63, another former staff member at the same children’s home, to two years in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault against a single victim.
The court revealed that Lake, of Luttrell Crescent, Lawnswood, Leeds, had a history of similar offences, having served a previous jail sentence in 1993 for abusing boys in his care.
Lake’s crimes, committed in the 1980s, further underscore the troubling pattern of abuse at the facility.
Lake’s previous conviction and current sentencing highlight ongoing concerns about the safety and oversight of children’s homes in Leeds during that era, and the long-lasting impact such abuse has had on the victims involved.
