SCOTT CORDNER AND ROBERT DUNN: SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENDERS FROM YOXALL AND TRENTHAM CAUGHT IN DERBY CRIME SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Trentham and Yoxall, two convicted sex offenders, Scott Cordner and Robert Dunn, have been brought to justice following a series of heinous crimes involving child abuse and indecent images. The revelations emerged after a seemingly innocuous incident at a restaurant in Derby, which ultimately led to the exposure of their dark pasts.

In July 2019, the true identities of these men were uncovered when a credit card bearing the name Scott Cordner was accidentally dropped by one of them at a local Derby restaurant. Friends of the individual, who knew him by his alias Ellis McLeod, found the card and grew suspicious. Acting on their instincts, they conducted an online search for “Scott Cornder” and quickly discovered that he had recently been released from prison after serving part of an eight-year sentence for serious sexual offenses involving young girls.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, they promptly informed the police. Investigations revealed that the man, now known as Ellis McLeod, aged 46, had been in regular contact with an underage girl, a violation of the strict legal restrictions placed on him following his release. Furthermore, he had failed to disclose his new identity to authorities, which was a legal requirement under the terms of his post-sentence license. As a result, McLeod, who resides on Abbey Street, was recalled to prison to serve the remaining duration of his original sentence. In addition, he was sentenced to a new 21-month term, which is to run concurrently with his current imprisonment.

Judge Jonathan Bennett presided over the case and addressed the defendant directly, stating, “You were out in a restaurant earlier this year and you left a credit card. Your friends saw that credit card and realised it had a different name on it. They made their own enquiries on the internet and came up with information about your past offending. You realised the game was up.” The judge also criticized McLeod for his self-centered letter, implying that it failed to acknowledge the impact of his actions.

Historically, McLeod, then known as Cordner and residing on Ferrers Road in Yoxall, Staffordshire, was sentenced in 2014 to six years in prison after admitting to multiple sexual offenses involving minors. These included engaging in sexual activity with a young girl, sexually assaulting another girl on three separate occasions, and creating nine counts of indecent images of children. The court was told that he and another man had met in an internet chat room, exchanged disturbing messages about abusing children, and then carried out their plans in real life.

Later that same year, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to eight years, deeming the original punishment unduly lenient. Lord Justice Pitchford, who presided over the appeal, expressed that while remorse was evident, the crimes were profoundly depraved, involving sexual assault on an infant. The court’s decision underscored the severity of the offenses and the need for a harsher penalty.

Additional details emerged when McLeod’s then-wife discovered his online conversations in January 2013, which revealed his disturbing interactions with another man. The offenses against the young girls came to light when a girl reported her abuse to Childline, prompting further investigation. McLeod pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual offenses protection order and failing to notify authorities of his new identity.

In a related case in October 2014, two Staffordshire businessmen, Robert Dunn and Scott Cordner, had their sentences increased following an appeal by the Attorney General. Both men had been convicted of abusing a two-year-old girl after meeting on a paedophile internet chat room. Dunn, aged 47 and residing on The Parks in Trentham, was initially sentenced to two years and eight months but was subsequently ordered to serve four years and eight months. Cordner, aged 42 from Ferrers Road, Yoxall, received an increased sentence of eight years after admitting to sexual activity with the young girl, as well as multiple counts of making indecent images of children.

During the police operation, both men’s computers were seized, revealing indecent images of children. The court heard that Dunn, who used the alias Sally Jones online, had exchanged messages with Cordner before carrying out their criminal acts. The prosecution highlighted that both men were married and held respectable jobs, which made their crimes even more shocking. The judge emphasized the danger posed by their online activities, warning that viewing such material can desensitize individuals and lead to real-world abuse.

In sentencing, Judge Mark Eades condemned their actions, stating, “You both have a dark secret – you are both attracted to young girls. It’s easy to hide that in the privacy of your own home, behind your computer. The evil doesn’t stop there, the more you view these pictures, the easier it is to persuade yourself it’s really not so bad, that most people talk about it in internet chat rooms. The trouble with that is it can lead to the execution of these acts, which is what happened in this case.”

These cases serve as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking behind seemingly ordinary facades and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.