In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Nicholas Leggett, then 70, of Roslyn Road, Redland, Bristol, was sentenced for downloading “vile” child abuse material while already on the Sex Offenders Register for life. On appearing at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing, it was reported that Leggett—an NHS volunteer researcher who had worked at the University of Bristol—was caught by his police offender manager after downloading 13 indecent images. The court reported that the “monstrous” material was recorded in the most serious Category A.
The investigation established that Leggett had a history of “predatory” digital behavior dating back to 2003, when he was jailed for possessing and inciting the distribution of indecent images of children. Avon and Somerset Police reported that the latest offences occurred between July and August 2017. The prosecution reported that although Leggett claimed he had “strayed” from adult pornography into child abuse, his offender manager discovered the illegal activity during a routine check in Redland, Bristol.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Leggett’s defense made a “bizarre” request to the judge to ban him from viewing all forms of pornography, which the judge declined. Bristol Crown Court heard how the illicit images were stored in a way that made them inaccessible to casual view, though the defendant had not used sophisticated methods to hide his activity. The prosecution reported that Leggett’s status as a lifelong sex offender meant his digital devices were under constant scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit in Bristol.
Judge Julian Lambert noted that the defendant required a stringent framework to prevent further re-offending. For his actions in Redland, Bristol, Leggett was handed a two-year community order and placed on a mandatory sex offender programme. The judge noted that a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was necessary to ban Leggett from any unchecked use of the internet, ensuring that his future digital conduct in Bristol remains under the control of law enforcement.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Nicholas Leggett was handed:
- Community Order: Two years with mandatory requirements (2019).
- Sex Offender Programme: Compulsory requirement to attend a rehabilitation program.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain active for life.
- SHPO: A stringent Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning unchecked internet use.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Bristol Crown Court following an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police.
- Origin: Roslyn Road, Redland, Bristol, Bristol.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Leggett is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at a high level of oversight by Avon and Somerset Police and the National Probation Service in the Bristol area. Due to the “vile” nature of his repeat offending and his professional background as a researcher in Redland, Bristol, his management is subject to intensive scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Leggett must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity, residence, and digital access for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of “straying” into child abuse material necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and internet activities. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his SHPO in Redland, Bristol, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a custodial sentence.
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