LESLEY HOOD FROM TELFORD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEENAGE GIRL IN TELFORD
In a case that has shocked the community of Telford, Leslie Hood, a 77-year-old former police officer, has been sentenced to prison for a series of indecent assaults committed against a teenage girl.The incidents took place in 1998, when the victim was just 15 years old, and the case only came to light after the victim reported the abuse to authorities in 2014.
Leslie Hood, who resided on Rushmore Lane in Bratton, Telford, was convicted earlier this year by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court on five counts of indecent assault.
The court proceedings revealed that Hood, who also served with distinction in the Royal Military Police during tours of the Far East, had engaged in multiple assaults over a span of several months.
The assaults occurred between March and September of 1998, with the victim recounting that Hood assaulted her on five separate occasions, including twice in a barn and once in his own bedroom.
During the court hearing, it was detailed that on two of these occasions, Hood physically pushed the girl either onto the floor or onto a bed, indicating a level of aggression and planning in his actions.
The victim, who chose to remain anonymous for legal reasons, provided a heartfelt victim impact statement, describing how the assaults had left her suffering from mental health issues and depression.
She expressed her fear and anger, stating, “Les is a predator.
If he can do it to me, he can do it to somebody else.
I hope he is sent to prison.” Prosecutor Gareth Roberts outlined the disturbing details of the case, emphasizing the repeated nature of the assaults and the breach of trust involved.
The court was also informed that Hood’s actions were not impulsive but involved a degree of planning, making the offences particularly serious.
Hood’s defense attorney, Hugh Williams, highlighted his client’s long-standing service in the military and police, including 20 years with the Royal Military Police and an additional decade working for Birmingham police, half of which was as a detective.
Mr.
Williams argued that Hood was in poor health and suggested that an immediate prison sentence could jeopardize his health further, stating, “He is somebody who is only going to have more serious illness as he gets older.
There is a real risk that if this man gets an immediate prison sentence today, that he is not going to come out.” However, the presiding judge, Recorder Martin Jackson, was clear in his judgment.
He emphasized that Hood’s actions were unacceptable and that the victim was entitled to be free from such abuse.
“She was entitled not to be treated as an object for sexual gratification by an older man who ought to have known better,” Jackson stated.
He described the assaults as frightening and noted that they were not isolated incidents but involved some level of planning.
The seriousness of the offences warranted a custodial sentence.
In addition to his criminal activities, the court was informed that Hood had also been employed by the former Wrekin Council, adding to the context of his background.
Ultimately, Hood was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, marking a significant moment of justice for the victim and the community of Telford.
