LEE EARL SENTENCED IN LEICESTER FOR CHILD ABUSE AND POSSESSING INDECENT IMAGES

In September 2010, 40-year-old Lee Earl of Hopyard Close, Gilmorton, Leicester, was sentenced for child abuse and possession of indecent images. Earl was convicted of sexually assaulting two 14-year-old girls and found to have more than 500 indecent images of children on his computer. The case was heard at Leicester Crown Court in July, where both victims testified about the abuse they endured.

He was later sentenced at Northampton Crown Court. One of the victims, now aged 17, described the impact of the abuse, stating, "As a result of this assault my life has been affected significantly. This has taken away my innocence, I used to take people as I found them but now I keep my guard up."

Earl received a three-year community order, which requires him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend a sex offender’s rehabilitation course, and participate in probation appointments. Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), restricting him from contacting anyone under 17 without supervision. The order also bans him from working with children for life. Furthermore, Earl was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Leicestershire police revealed that Earl's first victim, aged 14, was assaulted in June 2007, and his second victim, also 14, was assaulted twice between September 2007 and October 2008. Detective Constable Sophie Stevens, who led the investigation, praised the victims for their bravery, saying, "I would like to pay tribute to the victims who have shown immense bravery. Their courage helped secure a conviction."