PAUL LEONARD GROOMING SCOLDSCHOOLGIRL IN BYKER: SHOCKING INTERNET CRIME IN NEWCASTLE
| Red Rose Database
Byker Sexual Abuser
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Newcastle community, Paul Leonard, a 49-year-old resident of Byker, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the grooming of a young primary school girl via the internet. The disturbing incident came to light in January 2012, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that exploited the innocence of a minor through online communication.
Leonard had established a friendship with the young girl on Facebook, where he began sending her a series of inappropriate and sexually charged messages. The young victim’s mother, upon discovering the nature of these messages, immediately recognized the danger and took swift action. She confronted Leonard directly, demanding that he cease all contact with her daughter, and subsequently reported the matter to the police authorities.
Initially, Leonard faced multiple charges related to sexual offences against the girl. However, during the trial, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on these charges, leading prosecutors to decide against pursuing a retrial. Despite this setback, Leonard, who was then 49 years old, pleaded guilty to a separate but related charge of meeting a child following sexual grooming. This plea was accepted by the court, and he was subsequently sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Judge Michael Cartlidge presided over the case at Newcastle Crown Court, emphasizing the gravity of Leonard’s actions. He stated, “The core issue in this case is that the defendant engaged with the girl through online conversations that included explicitly sexual content. What is particularly disturbing is the girl’s young age.”
The court heard that the grooming was uncovered when the girl’s mother came across a Facebook chat between her daughter and Leonard. The messages revealed Leonard’s inappropriate intentions, with him expressing affection by saying, “I love being with you,” and making suggestive comments about her clothing choices. Leonard also attempted to conceal his activities by instructing the girl to delete the conversation history, telling her, “when we finish chatting remember to clear it,” implying she should erase any record of their interaction from her device.
Further, Leonard indicated that he would need to end their conversations when his wife was awake, and he confided in the girl that “I’ll be your secret. I don’t want you to get a boyfriend. I want you forever.” These messages, sent in January of the previous year, horrified the girl’s mother when she discovered them. She responded by sending Leonard a message requesting him to stop communicating with her daughter, and she promptly contacted the police authorities.
The young girl later disclosed to officers that Leonard had contacted her multiple times on Facebook and had even attempted to kiss her on the lips, highlighting the predatory nature of his conduct. As part of his sentence, Leonard was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his future interactions and activities.
During the proceedings, Anne Richardson, Leonard’s defense lawyer, acknowledged the manner in which the victim’s mother handled the situation. She praised her for managing the incident discreetly, which helped prevent her daughter from becoming overly distressed. Richardson also noted that Leonard’s true intentions remain unclear, stating, “Not even he knows what was in his mind or what his intentions were.”
Leonard had established a friendship with the young girl on Facebook, where he began sending her a series of inappropriate and sexually charged messages. The young victim’s mother, upon discovering the nature of these messages, immediately recognized the danger and took swift action. She confronted Leonard directly, demanding that he cease all contact with her daughter, and subsequently reported the matter to the police authorities.
Initially, Leonard faced multiple charges related to sexual offences against the girl. However, during the trial, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on these charges, leading prosecutors to decide against pursuing a retrial. Despite this setback, Leonard, who was then 49 years old, pleaded guilty to a separate but related charge of meeting a child following sexual grooming. This plea was accepted by the court, and he was subsequently sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Judge Michael Cartlidge presided over the case at Newcastle Crown Court, emphasizing the gravity of Leonard’s actions. He stated, “The core issue in this case is that the defendant engaged with the girl through online conversations that included explicitly sexual content. What is particularly disturbing is the girl’s young age.”
The court heard that the grooming was uncovered when the girl’s mother came across a Facebook chat between her daughter and Leonard. The messages revealed Leonard’s inappropriate intentions, with him expressing affection by saying, “I love being with you,” and making suggestive comments about her clothing choices. Leonard also attempted to conceal his activities by instructing the girl to delete the conversation history, telling her, “when we finish chatting remember to clear it,” implying she should erase any record of their interaction from her device.
Further, Leonard indicated that he would need to end their conversations when his wife was awake, and he confided in the girl that “I’ll be your secret. I don’t want you to get a boyfriend. I want you forever.” These messages, sent in January of the previous year, horrified the girl’s mother when she discovered them. She responded by sending Leonard a message requesting him to stop communicating with her daughter, and she promptly contacted the police authorities.
The young girl later disclosed to officers that Leonard had contacted her multiple times on Facebook and had even attempted to kiss her on the lips, highlighting the predatory nature of his conduct. As part of his sentence, Leonard was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his future interactions and activities.
During the proceedings, Anne Richardson, Leonard’s defense lawyer, acknowledged the manner in which the victim’s mother handled the situation. She praised her for managing the incident discreetly, which helped prevent her daughter from becoming overly distressed. Richardson also noted that Leonard’s true intentions remain unclear, stating, “Not even he knows what was in his mind or what his intentions were.”