LEO GORDON OF IPSWICH SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the community of Ipswich, Leo Gordon, aged 34, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of a series of heinous sexual offences committed against two young girls. The sentencing took place at Norwich Crown Court, where a jury found Gordon guilty of ten separate charges related to the abuse.

Gordon, who resides on Morland Road in Ipswich, had previously denied six counts of rape involving a female child, as well as two counts of sexual assault on a girl and two additional charges of assault on a child. However, during the proceedings, it was revealed that Gordon had admitted to two further charges of rape involving a child, which he had previously appeared in Ipswich Crown Court to face on May 11 of the previous year.

Judge Mark Lucraft presided over the case and delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the severity of the crimes. He described the case as “pretty horrific” and noted that the facts were even more disturbing than initially apparent. The judge also pointed out that Gordon appeared to be someone who sought to avoid the consequences of his actions.

Addressing the impact on the victims, Judge Lucraft stated that Gordon’s crimes had left a “deep impact” on two girls under the age of 14. As a result, Gordon was sentenced to 18 years in prison for each of the two counts of rape, four years for each of the sexual assault charges, and six years for the two assault on a child charges. Additionally, he received a 12-year sentence for the two rape charges he had previously admitted at Ipswich Crown Court.

The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Gordon will serve a total of 18 years in custody, with the sentence split equally between imprisonment and supervised release on licence. Furthermore, he was placed under an indefinite Sexual Offence Prevention Order, a restraining order, and a disqualification order, all designed to prevent further harm and restrict his contact with potential victims.

Detective Constable Kay Laney of Suffolk police, who led the investigation, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are pleased to see that such a lengthy sentence was handed to Mr Gordon. This was a very serious case, and the sentence sends out a strong message that if you commit offences of this nature, you will face a significant period behind bars.”

Earlier in the year, in February 2013, Gordon faced similar charges after being convicted of eight child sex offences, including six rapes. The jury at Norwich Crown Court found him guilty of ten charges in total following a two-week trial. The verdict confirmed his involvement in multiple acts of abuse, with offences spanning from 2008 to 2009, all occurring within Ipswich.

Gordon was initially arrested on February 16 of the previous year after a complaint was made to police. He was taken to the Suffolk Constabulary’s Martlesham headquarters for questioning and was subsequently released on bail pending further investigations. Eleven days after his arrest, he was formally charged with three counts of rape and one of assaulting a girl by penetration. Additional charges were later added to the case.

His first court appearance took place at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich on December 13. Due to the seriousness of the allegations, the case was transferred to Norwich Crown Court for trial, which ultimately resulted in his conviction and sentencing. The case has left a lasting mark on the Ipswich community, highlighting the importance of justice for victims of such grave crimes.