LEE BEGBIE SENTENCED IN WHITBY FOR HORRIFIC CRIMES IN NORFOLK TOWN

A man identified as Lee Begbie has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offenses against a teenage boy in Norfolk. The incident, which spanned over several months, took place between January and October 2003 in the town of Attleborough, a location far from Begbie’s residence in Fryup, near Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Begbie, aged 71, was brought before Teesside Crown Court on Monday, where he received a sentence of 19 years behind bars. The court proceedings revealed that the victim, who was under 16 at the time, was subjected to three separate acts of sexual assault by Begbie. These assaults occurred after Begbie initially befriended the boy in a local shop, establishing a false sense of trust before luring him into a trap.

According to police reports, Begbie invited the boy to his home under the pretense of showing him his car. It was during this visit that the assaults took place, with Begbie committing the acts on multiple occasions. The victim, who came forward many years later, reported the abuse to authorities in 2019. Following this, Begbie was formally charged in 2021 with three counts of buggery involving a minor under the age of 16.

Detective Sergeant Matt Hendry of Norfolk Police praised the victim for his courage in providing evidence during the trial. He emphasized that the victim’s bravery had played a crucial role in protecting others from what he described as a “dangerous offender.” After a week-long trial, the court found Begbie guilty of all charges.

The court heard emotional testimony from the victim, who described feeling “numb and scared” for many years after the assaults. The victim revealed that he had contemplated ending his life before coming forward, stating, “I got to the point before I came forward, that I had planned how I was going to end my life.” He also shared that the trauma had a profound impact on his personal life, including the breakdown of his marriage and the inability to be emotionally present for his children. “I missed a lot of my own children growing up, due to being emotionally unavailable for them and not being able to support them as much as I would want to,” he explained.

Detective Sergeant Hendry commented on the sentencing, saying, “This sentence goes some way to reflect the gravity and seriousness of Begbie’s offending and the significant impact it has had on the victim and his wider family. I hope this sentence assists with his ongoing recovery and moving forward with what has happened.”

The judge handed down a complex sentence, with Begbie receiving nine years for the first rape, nine years and six months concurrently for the second, and an additional ten years for the third assault, which will run consecutively. This means Begbie will serve a total of 19 years in prison for his crimes, marking a significant judicial response to a deeply troubling case.