SHAUN LEAH FROM CROFT ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CREATING FAKE FACEBOOK ACCOUNT IN BREACH OF SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER

In a case that has raised concerns about the monitoring of convicted sex offenders, Shaun Leah, a resident of Croft, was permitted to walk free from Liverpool Crown Court despite having violated the strict conditions of his sex offenders register. The incident occurred after Leah, who was previously convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls, created a Facebook account under a false identity, which is a clear breach of the legal obligations imposed upon him.

Leah, now 53 years old, had a notorious criminal history that dates back to 2005. At that time, he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing three girls, some as young as seven years old. The abuse spanned several years, and the victims’ bravery in coming forward was instrumental in securing his conviction. During the sentencing at Warrington Crown Court, Leah pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault and assault by penetration, all involving a girl under the age of 14. The court heard that he had also assaulted two other girls on separate occasions.

Following his release, Leah was mandated to register as a sex offender for life, a legal requirement designed to monitor and prevent further offending. However, in December of the previous year, Leah contravened this obligation by setting up a Facebook account under the alias ‘Lennie Ross’. This act was discovered during a routine police check, but what compounded the breach was Leah’s inadvertent admission during a phone call with his designated police officer. During the conversation, Leah unintentionally revealed that he had established the Facebook profile, claiming he did so to promote his groundwork services as a tradesman.

The court was informed that Leah did not realize that creating the Facebook account would constitute a breach of his sex offender registration conditions. Despite this, the breach was taken seriously by the authorities. Leah appeared in court unrepresented and admitted to failing to comply with the register. The judge, Recorder David Turner, decided to impose a two-year conditional discharge, meaning Leah would not serve time in prison but would be under strict supervision for that period. The judge emphasized that there was no malicious intent behind Leah’s actions and acknowledged his remorse and the fact that he had taken steps to be more cautious in the future.

Recorder Turner stated, “I am quite satisfied that there was no ulterior motive in you breaching the sex offenders register. You have now taken stock and are going to be very careful in the future. The public interest is also served by you working and being self-sufficient. This may seem like a very lenient sentence, but you are being put on trust not to commit any sort of offence for a period of two years.”

Leah’s criminal history remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by repeat offenders and the importance of rigorous monitoring. His case continues to highlight the challenges faced by law enforcement in ensuring compliance and protecting the community from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.