On Monday, July 26, Northampton Crown Court sentenced a local sex offender to 32 months in prison, citing him as a 'high risk to the public.' Lee Billingham, aged 46 and also known as Lee Murray, appeared in court to answer charges of breaching multiple court-imposed conditions.
The breaches stemmed from his actions including offering gifts to a female friend and her six-year-old daughter and deleting content from his electronic devices.
Billingham, who has a prior record of sexual offences and admitted a sexual attraction to pre-pubescent girls, had previously been cautioned in 2011 for sexual activities with a minor.
He was issued a sexual offences prevention order in 2014 and served a community sentence in 2016 for similar behaviour.
He later breached this order in August 2017 by engaging in online conversations with underage girls in a sexual manner, which resulted in a 34-month jail term.
After serving part of this sentence, Billingham reoffended within nine months by giving gifts to a young girl and her mother, and by deleting browsing history and data from two electronic devices.
Police found significant amounts of deleted data 56 items on one device and 180 on another.
Judge Lucking stated that these deletions had no innocent purpose and suggested that the gift-giving was indicative of grooming behaviour.
The Crown Prosecution Service, represented by Nicola Potts, expressed concern about Billingham’s continued non-compliance and sought to tighten restrictions on his court orders.
Billingham pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, one count for failing to comply with notify requirements, and four counts related to encouraging or involving a girl under 16 in sexual acts.
Billingham's defence, Mr Green, acknowledged that probation officers had observed some positive behavioural changes, and noted Billingham’s acceptance of his sexual preferences.
He suggested that restrictions such as a curfew and travel monitoring would be preferable over further imprisonment.
Judge Lucking QC concluded that despite being classified as medium risk by probation officers, Billingham’s history warranted a 'high risk' designation, given his repeated violations and behaviours involving young girls.
She described the breach as serious and justified the immediate custody sentence of 32 months.
Furthermore, upon release, his preventive orders would be subject to stricter conditions.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
In August 2017, a man from Northampton named Lee Murray was sentenced to 34 months in prison after engaging in disturbing online conversations with underage girls. The court heard that Murray, aged 42 and formerly residing on High Street...
Prison sentence
34 months
In August 2017, a man from Northampton named Lee Murray was sentenced to 34 months in prison after engaging in disturbing online conversations with underage girls
Court order
His actions included breaching a sexual harm prevention order issued by Northampton Magistrates' Court and failing to comply with the requirements of the sexual offences register, which are legal obligations for registered sex offenders
Prison sentence
34 months
The court was informed that Murray appeared via video link for his sentencing hearing, where Judge Fowler sentenced him to 34 months in prison
Sex Offenders Register
life
Additionally, Murray was placed on the sex offenders register for life, a measure that ensures ongoing monitoring and restrictions
Court order
The court also imposed a 15-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from working with children or deleting his internet history
Court order
In 2014, he was issued a sexual harm prevention order that included restrictions such as not deleting internet history or contacting girls under 18
Court order
Police recovered multiple mobile devices from his home, some with internet histories deleted, and found that he had breached the terms of his sexual harm prevention order
Community order
As a result, Murray was sentenced to a three-year community order and was mandated to complete a sex offenders' rehabilitation program, emphasizing the ongoing concern regarding his behaviour and the importance of monitoring sex offenders in the community
