LESLEY HALL BIDSTON PAEDOPHILE FLEEING TO THAILAND CAUGHT AND JAILED

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers posed by online predators, Leslie Hall, a 61-year-old man from Bidston, was convicted of engaging in heinous activities involving children and subsequently fleeing the country to evade justice. The case came to light after Hall attempted to exploit young girls through online platforms, posing as a lesbian teenager to lure them into compromising situations.

Hall, who resided on Wilfred Owen Drive in Bidston, made extensive efforts to contact nearly 4,000 schoolgirls via Skype, falsely claiming to be a 16 to 19-year-old girl. His manipulative tactics aimed at establishing trust and encouraging the victims to perform sexual acts. Over time, he succeeded in befriending four young girls, with whom he maintained persistent and coercive communication. When the victims refused to comply with his demands, Hall became aggressive and abusive, revealing his predatory intent.

Further investigations revealed that Hall had downloaded nearly 2,000 indecent images depicting children aged between eight and 14. These images were found on his computer and digital devices during a police raid. The police action was prompted by a report from computer engineer Adam Hill, who had been asked to repair Hall’s computer in April or May 2014. During the repair process, Hill discovered the disturbing content and reported it to his employer. However, the company, Propergeeks on Leasowe Road in Wallasey, pressured Hill to return the computer without reporting the matter to authorities, citing business interests as a priority.

Despite this, Hill later left the company and, troubled by what he had uncovered, decided to report the matter to the police. The police subsequently raided Hall’s home on October 11, 2014, seizing his computer and other digital equipment. Analysis of chat logs revealed that Hall used four different online accounts to communicate with his victims, although none of these accounts could be traced back to him directly.

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Hall engaged in a series of disturbing interactions with young girls. In November 2013, he told a 13-year-old girl who identified as a lesbian that he loved her and convinced her to show him her breasts. He refused to go on camera unless she posed naked, at which point he revealed his own genitals. The girl, who had previously expressed suicidal thoughts, responded with a poignant question: “Why lie to an innocent girl?”

In January 2014, Hall persuaded a 14-year-old girl to reveal her body on camera. During the interaction, he suddenly began masturbating on camera, leaving the girl confused and distressed. Later that year, in August 2014, he contacted a bisexual 13-year-old girl, whom she described as a bully. The following month, Hall accused a 13-year-old girl of being a man when she refused to strip for him. When she told him to “f*** off,” Hall responded with a vulgar insult, demonstrating his manipulative and aggressive behavior.

Hall was charged with multiple offenses, including four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. After being interviewed by police in October 2014, Hall fled the UK to Thailand. He returned two weeks later and surrendered his passport, but in February 2015, he disappeared again, remaining at large for nearly 18 months. During this period, he was considered a fugitive, with authorities actively searching for him.

His flight from justice ended in September 2016 when he was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. The court heard that Hall’s decision to flee was a calculated move to avoid prosecution. Recorder David Turner, QC, described Hall’s behavior as aggressive and manipulative, especially in his dealings with vulnerable young girls. Hall was eventually apprehended and brought to justice, receiving a sentence of two years in prison.

In addition to his imprisonment, Hall was subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same duration. The case underscores the importance of vigilance in online spaces and the need for swift action when such disturbing activities are uncovered, especially involving vulnerable minors.