HARRY LEECH OF BEVERLEY SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN IN YORKSHIRE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Beverley and the wider Yorkshire region, Harry Leech, aged 77, has been convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two young children over a span of more than a decade. The disturbing details emerged during a court hearing at Hull Crown Court, where Leech pleaded guilty to 28 counts of sexual assault against the victims, who were under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse.

According to court reports, Leech’s victims ranged in age from just six to eleven years old. The court heard that Leech engaged in acts of sexual misconduct that included making the children masturbate him, as well as touching and licking their genitals. Prosecutor Charlotte Baines outlined that the first victim was abused over ten years ago, with the assaults ceasing only when the girl, who was then a teenager, told him she had started her period, a clear attempt to discourage his advances.

Leech’s predatory behavior did not end there. He later targeted a second victim, who was only six years old at the start of the abuse. The abuse continued until she reached the age of eleven. Court proceedings revealed that as the victims grew older, Leech’s twisted methods escalated. He would often get them intoxicated on sloe gin, a homemade concoction made from berries they had picked together, in order to continue his abuse under the influence of alcohol.

The crimes committed by Leech, described in court as being carried out by a “professional man,” only came to light after the victims had reached adulthood. It was then that they recognized the need to expose the abuse they had endured. Ms. Baines explained that both victims began to exhibit signs of distress during their teenage years, including self-harm and substance abuse. The youngest victim eventually confided in her mother about the abuse during the summer of 2019.

The first victim’s mother noticed a change in her daughter’s behavior, observing her drinking heavily and finding empty bottles of vodka in her room. Her daughter’s drinking spiraled out of control on weekends, and she expressed a desire to leave home, which she did at the age of 16. Meanwhile, the second victim’s mother became aware of her daughter’s self-harming habits and learned the reasons behind her distress, which were linked to the abuse she had suffered.

Following these revelations, police were called, and Leech was arrested. He subsequently pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his guilt. The court heard emotional victim impact statements, highlighting the profound and lasting damage inflicted by Leech’s actions. Judge Mark Bury sentenced Leech to a total of 12 years in prison, condemning him for the damage caused to his victims’ lives.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Bury emphasized the calculated nature of Leech’s crimes, which spanned over eleven years, and condemned the offender for treating his victims as objects for his own sexual gratification. The judge acknowledged the ongoing suffering of the victims, with the first describing her childhood as being “ruined” by Leech, feeling shame and low self-esteem, though affirming that none of it was her fault. The second victim’s self-harming behaviors had only ceased once the abuse was uncovered, and her education had been severely impacted. She expressed concerns about her future relationships, fearing the long-term effects of Leech’s actions.

Judge Bury concluded by warning Leech that the consequences of his actions would continue to haunt him, and that offenders like him often face the repercussions of their deeds eventually catching up with them. The court’s verdict serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse and the importance of justice for victims in Beverley and beyond.