RAYMOND LEYLAND FROM CHORLTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MANCHESTER

In August 2018, Raymond Leyland, a man with no fixed address but known to have ties to the Chorlton area, was sentenced to a significant prison term after being convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The incident and subsequent legal proceedings highlight the ongoing concerns surrounding convicted sex offenders and their interactions within communities.

Raymond Leyland, born on January 16, 1992, appeared before Manchester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl, possessing indecent images, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The court sentenced him to eight years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the breach of legal restrictions designed to protect children.

His criminal history includes a previous incarceration in December 2015 for child sex offenses, from which he was released in September 2017 on license. As part of his release conditions, Leyland was required to reside at a bail hostel in Chorlton, a suburb of Manchester. Despite these restrictions, Leyland quickly became involved in interactions that violated the terms of his license and the protective order in place against him.

Shortly after his release, Leyland formed a relationship with a local couple, who were unaware of his past convictions and the restrictions imposed upon him. Unbeknownst to them, Leyland was subject to a sexual harm prevention order that prohibited him from having contact with children and from possessing an unregistered mobile phone. Nevertheless, he breached these conditions when he began engaging with the couple’s seven-year-old daughter.

Over the course of approximately two months, Leyland sought to establish a bond with the young girl. He paid her attention and played with her in the presence of her parents, seemingly attempting to gain her trust. His actions appeared to be aimed at building a relationship that would allow him to access the child more freely.

However, the situation took a darker turn when Leyland committed a sexual assault on the girl when no one else was around. He instructed her to keep the incident a secret, but the young victim soon sensed that something was wrong. Recognizing that her experience was not normal, she confided in her mother about what had happened.

The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for strict enforcement of restrictions placed on convicted offenders. Leyland’s actions not only violated legal orders but also caused profound harm to a young child, leading to his imprisonment and highlighting the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses.