richard brown Child Sexual Abuser in Leeds

A man who indecently assaulted a young girl during the 1980s has finally been brought to justice as a result of an investigation by Leeds-based safeguarding specialists.

Richard Brown, 60 years old and living on Kelmscott Avenue in Manston, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault by a jury at Leeds Crown Court, which concluded proceedings on June 18.

The survivor reported the abuse in 2022 after becoming aware that Brown was being investigated by police for suspected possession of indecent images.

An investigation into those images did not lead to any charges.

As part of its investigative process, officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Unit obtained a comprehensive account through a recorded video interview, which became an important piece of evidence.

Brown was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of indecency involving a girl under 14.

The court arranged for the victim to give her testimony via video and used screens to shield her from sight of Brown and the public gallery, ensuring her comfort and safety during proceedings.

Brown was sentenced to two years and four months in prison, with an additional Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued to restrict any unsupervised contact with girls under 16.

He was also registered as a sex offender, and a lifelong Restraining Order was issued to bar him from contacting the victim.

Commenting on the case, Detective Inspector Thomas Crosfill noted: “The victim has carried this burden for many years, affected deeply by what happened to her as a child.

“When she chose to come forward, our safeguarding team provided her with extensive support to document her experience and build a strong case.

“This conviction will, we hope, comfort her to know that justice has been served.

“Our commitment remains to take any allegations of this nature seriously, bringing offenders to account and protecting potential victims.

“We hope this successful outcome encourages more victims to report such crimes, knowing they will receive full support during investigations and legal proceedings.”