LEON BOWES: LITTLEPORT AND LITTLETHORPE RAPIST SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR 29 OFFENSES AGAINST WOMEN

On Thursday, February 6, a man named Leon Bowes, residing on Biddle Road in Littlethorpe, was handed a life sentence in prison after being convicted of a series of heinous crimes committed over a span of more than 16 years. The court sentenced Bowes to a minimum term of 17 years and four months, following a lengthy and meticulous investigation that lasted approximately 18 months. The case involved a total of 29 separate offences, many of which were of a violent and sexual nature, inflicted upon multiple women who endured unimaginable suffering at his hands.

Law enforcement authorities first became aware of Bowes’s disturbing conduct in July 2023, after one of his victims came forward with her account. This initial disclosure prompted a comprehensive investigation, during which officers uncovered evidence of additional victims—women who had also fallen prey to Bowes’s predatory behavior. Investigators believe that there may be even more women who have suffered at his hands, and they continue to encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Following the sentencing, three women who bravely testified against Bowes shared their experiences and the profound impact his actions have had on their lives. Their identities are protected by law to preserve their privacy and safety. One of these women described her ordeal by saying, “I existed in perpetual fear of Leon. I was petrified of him and the level of violence he showed towards me. It was so bad that I no longer recognize myself. I am working with mental health agencies to deal with my trauma, but I have lost years of my life. Leon needs to be kept away from women permanently. He enjoyed the pain and the fear he put me through. I am still not free from the harm he caused but I am slowly starting to heal.”

Another victim recounted her experience of control and dependency, stating, “I couldn’t do anything without Leon’s say so, it was suffocating. I couldn’t see the control he had over me. There were so many things I should have seen but I was blind. He manufactured it to the point that I was helpless without him. He made me so dependent on him. I still live in fear. I feel scared and paranoid all the time. Leon needs to be kept away from women. He sees women as beneath him and targets them and uses them for his own gratification. I am slowly starting to rebuild my life but the trauma he inflicted lives with me daily.”

The third woman highlighted the damaging effects on her personal relationships, saying, “Leon had a huge negative impact on my relationship with my family and friends. He isolated me from everyone so all I had was him. To this day, the harm he caused me still affects me. A lot of the decisions I have made in life have been grounded in the trauma caused by him. Leon has never shown any remorse for what he did to me or the other women and will always continue to deny any wrongdoing. This does not surprise me, I expect it to a degree, but it angers me that he does not take any responsibility for his actions. He is a violent and manipulative man who needs to be kept away from women and girls for the rest of his life.”

Sergeant Lorraine Hendrie, who led the investigation, expressed her gratitude to the victims for their bravery. She stated, “This has been an extremely harrowing 16-month investigation, but I feel so honoured to have worked with three incredibly brave women who trusted me and felt able to share the pain and terror they felt. I cannot thank them enough for this. It is because of them that an extremely dangerous, predatory, and violent individual will spend many years behind bars and be kept from hurting any other women or girls. Without them, I honestly believe he would still be subjecting women to the most horrendous sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. I also believe there are other women out there—perhaps who are reading this now—who have also suffered at the hands of this man. Please know it is not too late to come forward and speak to police. Any further reports will be fully investigated.”

In addition to gathering evidence, Sergeant Hendrie and a women’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) provided vital support and guidance to the victims as they prepared for the trial. One of the women shared her experience of giving evidence, saying, “When it came to me giving evidence, the judge and jury listened to me—I felt heard. But it was extremely tough to listen to Leon try to defend and disprove his actions, and there were times I felt helpless. I found the strength though, and if it wasn’t for my trust in Lorraine, I am not sure I could have got through it. She made everything that little bit easier, and along with my ISVA, they made sure I had all the support I needed.”