CHILD RAPIST DAVID MCLEARY CONVICTED IN LIVERPOOL COURT
A notorious pedophile was convicted in absentia of raping a young girl, claiming he is "self-isolating" due to the coronavirus pandemic.David McLeary, residing on Bedford Road in Birkenhead, administered amphetamines to his young victim and subjected her to beatings, molestation, and sexual assault.
This morning, a jury found the 47-year-old guilty of ten sexual offenses after a difficult seven-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The jury, reduced to 10 members because two were dismissed earlier due to fears related to COVID-19, reached unanimous verdicts.
Despite the convictions, McLeary was not present in court to hear the verdicts.
Defense attorneys explained he was staying at home following NHS guidance.
Philip Astbury, representing McLeary, stated that his client, who had attended court up until the jury retired to deliberate yesterday, was absent because he reported that his girlfriend had begun showing symptoms of the virus overnight and was advised not to attend by NHS 111.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, announced he would grant McLeary conditional bail with a residence requirement until sentencing on April 3.
However, it was uncertain if a house curfew from 8 pm to 6 am could be enforced via electronic monitoring, as the court learned that those responsible for fitting and maintaining the electronic tag might be hesitant to enter McLeary’s property.
Mr.
Astbury explained that this uncertainty stemmed from whether the technicians would be willing to access McLeary’s address to install or check the device.
The trial revealed that McLeary's abuse began when the girl was 13, when he forcibly held her head and persuaded her to perform oral sex.
Sarah Holt, prosecuting, stated that after the assault, McLeary told his victim to wash and demeaned her by calling her "nothing but a dirty slag." When she was around 13 or 14, McLeary pushed her to the ground, stripped her, and raped her.
Ms.
Holt explained that the girl was left in pain and was afterwards called "nothing but a dirty whore" by McLeary, who also claimed she was “his dirty whore.” The court heard of another incident where he physically overpowered her and raped her again, striking her when she attempted to resist.
Ms.
Holt said: "When she tried to fight back, McLeary slapped her across the mouth and told her to 'stop fighting'." Jurors also learned that McLeary frequently forced the girl to masturbate him, though she struggled to recall every instance due to the frequency of the abuse.
She confided to police that she was "petrified" of McLeary and feared his anger if she did not comply, which often resulted in violence.
The prosecutor stated: "If she didn’t do as he demanded, she would get beaten, so she told police that it was best to just do what he wanted." Ms.
Holt further revealed that McLeary supplied the girl with amphetamines—commonly called "speed" or "whizz"—as part of his abusive behavior.
She explained: "He would place some white powder into her hand and order her to swallow it, force-feeding her if she spat it out.
After administering it, he would then sexually assault her." Additionally, McLeary was accused of instructing the girl to masturbate a friend, Lee Jones, aged 44, of Poulton Road, Poulton.
The girl testified that McLeary told her "give him one" and urged her to "go on, grab hold of his penis," asserting she understood refusing would result in violence.
She said McLeary watched during the incident, and afterward, called her a "dirty little slag" before she broke down crying.
When questioned by police, McLeary admitted to using amphetamines himself but denied giving any to the girl or doing so in her presence.
He also denied ever assaulting her—either physically or sexually—and denied making derogatory remarks or any involvement with Jones.
Jones himself told police that the allegation was false, claiming he was never masturbated by the girl and that McLeary never referred to her as "a dirty slag." The jury also convicted McLeary of administering a substance with the intent to stupefy or overpower the girl to facilitate sexual activity, following about two hours of deliberation.
However, both McLeary and Jones were acquitted of one charge involving causing a child to engage in sexual activity related to a single incident with Jones.
Addressing the court, Judge Menary expressed appreciation for the jury's efforts, stating: "It's nothing at all to do with me your verdicts, but as it happens, I agree with your verdicts."
