THOMAS LEECH SENTENCED IN PRESTON FOR EXTREMIST AND CHILD SEX OFFENSES
A 19-year-old man from Preston, identified as Thomas Leech of Derby Drive, has been sentenced to two years in prison for posting extremist right-wing and racist content online, as well as for possessing indecent images of a child.The case was prosecuted by the Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) unit.
Leech pleaded guilty to a total of seven charges, which included three counts of publishing material aimed at encouraging or inciting acts of terrorism, in violation of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Additionally, he admitted to four other offences: distributing written material that was threatening, abusive, or insulting with the intent to stir racial hatred; publishing or distributing similar material intended to incite religious hatred; making 211 indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child; and making four more indecent images of a child.
He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, where the judge also imposed a 12-month extended licence to follow his prison term, a 10-year registration on the sex offenders register, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and a notification requirement under Part Four of the Terrorism Act 2008 for 10 years.
The investigation began on February 28, 2020, when police received reports of an online user posting racist and hateful comments, showing support for extreme right-wing ideologies.
CTPNW, with assistance from Counter Terrorism Command, traced the activity back to Leech.
Further investigations uncovered numerous posts containing anti-Semitic and racist remarks.
Leech was arrested at his home in November 2020.
After being released on bail, he continued to post online material that was harmful.
Digital device analysis revealed indecent images of children, leading to his re-arrest in February 2021 on suspicion of creating such images.
In December 2021, Leech pleaded guilty to all seven charges.
Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, head of CTPNW investigations, commented, “Leech's comments and behaviour online were despicable, and a thorough investigation was able to identify these posts and evidence them before the courts.” He added, “CTPNW will always take complaints of this nature very seriously and exercise full powers to bring offenders to justice.”
