ANDREW LEE FROM HOLTON-LE-CLAY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASE IN GRIMSBY

In a case that has shocked the local community, Andrew Lee, a man from Holton-le-Clay, was recently brought before Hull Crown Court to face serious allegations of child sexual abuse and possession of indecent images. The proceedings revealed disturbing details about his activities involving minors, which have left many residents and the victim’s family in a state of disbelief and concern.

According to court records, Lee, aged 39 and formerly residing on Bevers Way in Holton-le-Clay, admitted to sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 on three separate occasions between approximately 2007 and 2008. In addition to these assaults, he also confessed to possessing indecent photographs of children, further compounding the severity of his crimes.

The investigation into Lee’s activities was initiated by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which initially focused on another individual. During their probe, authorities uncovered a chat log from February 11 of the previous year, where Lee was found discussing the sexual abuse of a young child on an internet platform. In this exchange, he sent an image of a very young girl he knew, although the image was not indecent. Despite the lack of charges related directly to this particular incident, police discovered that Lee’s online activity was linked to his registered address at Bevers Way, Holton-le-Clay, near Grimsby.

Subsequent searches of Lee’s residence yielded a laptop containing indecent photographs of children. Further investigations revealed that a girl had come forward to police, alleging that Lee had sexually abused her on three occasions when she visited his home in The Close, off Littlefield Lane, Grimsby. The girl recounted that Lee would take her into his bedroom and bounce her on the bed, an account that added to the gravity of his offenses.

During the court hearing, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC addressed the sentencing considerations, noting that Lee had already spent four and a half months in custody on remand. The judge explained that this time would be deducted from any prison sentence imposed, which would likely result in Lee serving only a few months behind bars. Emphasizing the importance of long-term public protection, Judge Richardson stated, “I have the long-term protection of the public at the forefront of my thinking.”

He further explained that, given Lee’s prior remand, a lengthy prison sentence would be relatively short, and therefore, a community order would serve the best interests of both the public and the offender. The judge warned Lee that any minor breach of the community order could result in a return to prison for a significant period. Ultimately, Lee was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes participation in a sex offender treatment program and 15 days of rehabilitation. Additionally, he was issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender for five years. The court will review his progress every three months.

Following the sentencing, the mother of the young girl whose image was shared in the online chat expressed her shock and disappointment. She stated, “I can’t believe it. I am in shock. He has walked away from it. He’s a risk to the public. I don’t think any course is going to rehabilitate him.” She further explained that the image in question was of herself, naked with her then 18-month-old daughter, and clarified that Lee was not charged in connection with that incident. The mother added, “The more they dug deeper, the more they found out. It could have been a different story. She was an innocent child who did not know right from wrong.”

This case has raised ongoing concerns about the safety of children in the community and the adequacy of sentencing in cases involving sexual offenses against minors. Many residents continue to call for stricter measures to protect vulnerable children from predators like Andrew Lee, whose actions have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.