In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Andrew Leigh, then 56, formerly of Lossiemouth Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, was jailed for a “predatory” global child exploitation campaign. On Monday, 1 July 2019, the defendant appeared at Leicester Crown Court for sentencing. It was reported that Leigh, an ex-serviceman, trawled dating sites to target mothers in the Philippines, offering them money to obtain indecent images and live video of their young daughters for his sexual gratification.
The investigation established that Leigh systematically targeted girls aged between five and 12 years old. Leicestershire Police reported that when officers arrested the defendant in March 2018, he utilised remote-control software to delete “vile” material from his iPad and laptop as soon as they were connected to the internet for inspection. The prosecution reported that despite this “monstrous” attempt to destroy evidence, Skype chat data and WorldRemit records proved Leigh had made 36 overseas transactions totalling approximately £2,000 to facilitate the abuse.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Leigh’s behavior was entrenched and entirely deliberate, involving the manipulation of susceptible women living in poverty. Leicester Crown Court heard how the defendant requested that mothers “offer sweets” to children as young as eight to 12 to persuade them to pose for naked images. The prosecution reported that Leigh was observed during a live video call watching “one if not two” naked children in a “vile” situation he had paid for in the Philippines.
Judge Nicholas Dean QC noted that Leigh represented a “high risk of causing serious harm” to children that would continue long after his release. For his actions in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and the Philippines, Leigh admitted to 12 offences, including facilitating the sexual exploitation of children under 13. The judge noted that the remote deletion of evidence was a significant aggravating factor, leading to a custodial sentence of four years and eight months, with an extended licence period of five years to ensure long-term monitoring.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Andrew Leigh was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Four years and eight months in prison (July 2019).
- Extended Licence: Five years of mandatory supervision following release.
- Parole Requirement: Must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial term.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life (indefinite).
- SHPO: An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Leicester Crown Court following an investigation by Leicestershire Police.
- Origin: Lossiemouth Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Leigh is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of oversight by Leicestershire Police and the prison estate. Due to the “calculating” nature of his digital offending and his use of remote technology to evade detection in Hinckley, Leicestershire, his management is subject to intensive scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Leigh must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of targeting children in the Philippines and his professional background in the military necessitate permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and digital access. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his indefinite SHPO in Hinckley, Leicester, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a lengthier term of incarceration.
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