LESLEY FOOTE AND GERALD TOWNROW SHOCK SOUTHAMPTON AND EASTLEIGH WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS
| Red Rose Database
Southampton Eastleigh Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing series of criminal cases that have rocked the communities of Eastleigh and Southampton, two men, Leslie Foote and Gerald Townrow, have been linked to heinous crimes involving child sexual abuse and the possession of indecent images of minors.
Leslie Foote, a 65-year-old resident of Eastleigh, has been at the center of a high-profile case involving the sexual exploitation of three young girls. His conviction in June at Southampton Crown Court resulted in a 15-year prison sentence for 12 counts of indecent assault. However, this sentence was later reduced to 12 years following an appeal by his legal representatives. The Court of Appeal in London, comprising three senior judges, determined that the original sentence was excessively harsh given the circumstances.
Mr. Justice Males, presiding over the appeal, explained that Foote’s crimes only came to light after his arrest for child pornography offences the previous year. The investigation uncovered a disturbing history of abuse dating back to the 1980s and extending into the late 1990s, involving children as young as four years old. Despite losing his right leg in an accident in the early 1990s, Foote continued to commit these despicable acts, targeting vulnerable children.
During the court proceedings, Foote, who resides on Tennyson Road, denied all allegations, dismissing the victims as liars and showing no remorse or compassion. The judge noted that Foote’s continued denial and lack of remorse were aggravating factors. His lawyers argued that a 15-year sentence was excessive, and the court agreed, adjusting the term to 12 years while acknowledging the seriousness of his crimes.
In a related case from April 2011, Foote was found to possess over 600 indecent images and film clips of children, including 15 of the most serious category of pornography. Police raided his home in Southampton and discovered the illicit material on his computer. The investigation was initially linked to another suspect, Gerald Townrow, whom Foote had met via Facebook. Townrow, a 45-year-old man from Hinkler Road, Southampton, was also implicated after his wife discovered child pornography being downloaded onto their family computer.
Detectives found a video clip and 17 photographs on Townrow’s device, prompting him to begin deleting the files in an attempt to conceal his activities. Townrow subsequently admitted to 17 counts of downloading indecent images of children and one count of possessing images with intent to share. He was sentenced to a three-year supervision order, barred from contact with children other than his own, and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Foote, who is a father of two and a step-grandfather of five, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of downloading indecent images. His case highlighted his lack of previous criminal history and his efforts to seek help, including contacting a support line called “Stop It.”
Further complicating the case, Townrow was employed as a risk and logistics expert on the £6 billion Olympic construction project in Stratford, involved in coordinating VIP visits. His employment was terminated after his criminal activities came to light. Townrow’s wife, Jayne, who is now divorcing him, reported his illicit downloads to the police, leading to his arrest. Despite attempting to delete the files, authorities recovered the evidence from his home computer in Dibden Purlieu, Southampton. An investigation into his office computer in Stratford revealed no misconduct related to his work.
The connection between Townrow and Foote was established through online communications, with detectives uncovering discussions about sharing child abuse images. Both men faced serious charges, and their cases have sparked outrage within the local communities, emphasizing the ongoing battle against child exploitation and online abuse. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing such offenders and protecting vulnerable children from harm.
Leslie Foote, a 65-year-old resident of Eastleigh, has been at the center of a high-profile case involving the sexual exploitation of three young girls. His conviction in June at Southampton Crown Court resulted in a 15-year prison sentence for 12 counts of indecent assault. However, this sentence was later reduced to 12 years following an appeal by his legal representatives. The Court of Appeal in London, comprising three senior judges, determined that the original sentence was excessively harsh given the circumstances.
Mr. Justice Males, presiding over the appeal, explained that Foote’s crimes only came to light after his arrest for child pornography offences the previous year. The investigation uncovered a disturbing history of abuse dating back to the 1980s and extending into the late 1990s, involving children as young as four years old. Despite losing his right leg in an accident in the early 1990s, Foote continued to commit these despicable acts, targeting vulnerable children.
During the court proceedings, Foote, who resides on Tennyson Road, denied all allegations, dismissing the victims as liars and showing no remorse or compassion. The judge noted that Foote’s continued denial and lack of remorse were aggravating factors. His lawyers argued that a 15-year sentence was excessive, and the court agreed, adjusting the term to 12 years while acknowledging the seriousness of his crimes.
In a related case from April 2011, Foote was found to possess over 600 indecent images and film clips of children, including 15 of the most serious category of pornography. Police raided his home in Southampton and discovered the illicit material on his computer. The investigation was initially linked to another suspect, Gerald Townrow, whom Foote had met via Facebook. Townrow, a 45-year-old man from Hinkler Road, Southampton, was also implicated after his wife discovered child pornography being downloaded onto their family computer.
Detectives found a video clip and 17 photographs on Townrow’s device, prompting him to begin deleting the files in an attempt to conceal his activities. Townrow subsequently admitted to 17 counts of downloading indecent images of children and one count of possessing images with intent to share. He was sentenced to a three-year supervision order, barred from contact with children other than his own, and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Foote, who is a father of two and a step-grandfather of five, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of downloading indecent images. His case highlighted his lack of previous criminal history and his efforts to seek help, including contacting a support line called “Stop It.”
Further complicating the case, Townrow was employed as a risk and logistics expert on the £6 billion Olympic construction project in Stratford, involved in coordinating VIP visits. His employment was terminated after his criminal activities came to light. Townrow’s wife, Jayne, who is now divorcing him, reported his illicit downloads to the police, leading to his arrest. Despite attempting to delete the files, authorities recovered the evidence from his home computer in Dibden Purlieu, Southampton. An investigation into his office computer in Stratford revealed no misconduct related to his work.
The connection between Townrow and Foote was established through online communications, with detectives uncovering discussions about sharing child abuse images. Both men faced serious charges, and their cases have sparked outrage within the local communities, emphasizing the ongoing battle against child exploitation and online abuse. The authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing such offenders and protecting vulnerable children from harm.