LESLEY COLLETT'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN NEWPORT: LORRY DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE BOY
Man jailed for horrific rape of a child in Wales dies behind bars A man from Newport, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the sexual assault of a schoolboy, has died while incarcerated.Leslie Collett, aged 74, died at HMP Usk on June 27, 2026, after serving approximately six years of his sentence.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed his death, and an investigation is currently underway.
Collett's criminal history includes a series of heinous offences against minors.
In August 2020, he was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court after admitting to two counts of raping a male under 16 and three counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16.
These crimes took place between August 2000 and August 2003.
Collett, a lorry driver residing in Newport, was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order and was required to register as a sex offender indefinitely.
The case originally emerged in July 2020, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning over two decades.
Court proceedings detailed how Collett, then aged 50, had previously served time for abusing young girls in 1987 and 1990.
Despite his criminal record, he continued to offend, targeting a young boy aged between 13 and 14 years old.
The victim, whose statement was read aloud in court, described how Collett used grooming tactics such as offering alcohol and cigarettes, specifically Lambrini, to lower his inhibitions.
The abuse included coercion into sexual acts and even an invitation to participate in a threesome involving Collett’s wife, Sharon.
The assaults escalated to Collett raping the boy on multiple occasions, often inside his lorry while he was working near Newport Docks.
Prosecutor Timothy Evans outlined that the victim felt compelled to comply out of fear for his safety, fearing retaliation or harm, even believing he might “end up in a body bag somewhere.” The court heard that Collett’s actions had a profound and lasting impact on the victim, who attended the proceedings and delivered a heartfelt statement describing the psychological scars inflicted by the abuse.
Collett’s guilty plea to two counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault was accepted by the court.
Judge Catherine Richards sentenced him to 12 years in prison, highlighting the seriousness of his crimes and his age as mitigating factors.
She also ordered that Collett register as a sex offender indefinitely.
The judge expressed her sympathies to the victim and wished him well in his ongoing recovery from the trauma.
Following his death, Detective Constable Christie Radford commented: "This sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes Collett has committed against a vulnerable child.
His actions have had a devastating impact on his victim, which has persisted into adulthood." She also praised the resilience of the victim, emphasising the importance of reporting sexual offences and the support available to victims.
Collett’s death marks a tragic end to a case that underscored the enduring harm caused by sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims.
An investigation into his death is ongoing.
