ROBERT LEONARD FROM STOURBRIDGE SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has shocked the community of Stourbridge and the surrounding West Midlands area, Robert Leonard, a 58-year-old former police officer, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 14 years for heinous crimes involving the abuse of young girls and the possession of a vast collection of illegal child pornography. The crimes spanned over three decades, from 1969 to 1999, during which Leonard targeted four young girls aged between five and 16 years old.

Leonard, who previously served as a detective constable and was instrumental in establishing the Crimestoppers unit for West Midlands Police, was found guilty of multiple serious charges. A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court deliberated for just under two and a half hours before reaching unanimous verdicts on two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and five counts of indecent assault. The severity of the evidence was clear, and the jury's decision reflected the gravity of Leonard’s actions.

During the proceedings, Leonard, a twice-married man residing in Wollaston, Stourbridge, showed no visible emotion as the verdicts were read. He had previously admitted to possessing indecent photographs of children and storing over 4,000 paedophile images on his computer. Despite his admission, the full extent of his crimes was laid bare during the trial, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse and exploitation.

Judge Frank Chapman, presiding over the case, sentenced Leonard to 14 years in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of the offences. In his remarks, the judge stated, “The jury have convicted you on the clearest evidence. The offences go back many, many years. But you still have an active interest in touching children inappropriately. On top of that, your computer was full of horrible photographs and pseudo-photographs of offences being committed against children. Plainly there will have to be a long prison sentence.”

He further highlighted the disturbing nature of the images found on Leonard’s computer, describing each as representing a victim of a grave offence committed against a child. The judge underscored that these images were created for the purpose of satisfying Leonard’s perverse interests, and that such material constitutes a serious crime against the victims depicted.

As part of his sentence, Leonard was ordered to be registered on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The court also heard that Leonard had used manipulative tactics to silence his victims, telling them that the abuse was a “little secret” and offering them small amounts of money, such as ten pence, to keep quiet.

Prosecutor James Burbidge QC detailed the disturbing evidence presented during the trial. He explained that the victims, three of whom are now adults in their 30s and 40s, were abused at various locations, including a parked car near a cemetery and inside a locked shop. The court was shown that Leonard’s computer contained over 4,000 images of child pornography, with known paedophile websites listed in his Internet “favourites” folder. Authorities also discovered that Leonard possessed passwords for online groups used by paedophiles to exchange information and images, although it remains unclear whether he engaged in direct online exchanges.

Leonard attempted to justify his possession of the images by claiming he had come across them accidentally while doing crosswords and trying to decode internet sites, a defense that was dismissed by the court given the overwhelming evidence against him. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Stourbridge, highlighting the dangers posed by individuals who hide their criminal activities behind a facade of normalcy.