A 37-year-old man from Stow has been convicted of repeatedly raping a child and perverting the course of justice following a five-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court.
Leon Burton, previously of St Mary’s Crescent, Stow, appeared before the court where a jury returned guilty verdicts on Friday 16 October 2026 following an extensive safeguarding and public protection investigation led by Lincolnshire Police.
The prosecution outlined that the offending commenced in 2025 and continued into 2026 within the Stow area. Burton targeted a single young victim, subjecting the child to repeated sexual abuse and serious sexual violations. Alongside the sexual attacks, Burton carried out deliberate actions aimed at obstructing and perverting the course of criminal justice.
Ahead of the trial, Burton entered formal guilty pleas to two charges on the indictment:
One count of sexual activity with a child
One count of perverting the course of justice
However, Burton contested the most serious allegations, denying three counts of rape of a child and a second count of perverting the course of justice. His denials forced the child survivor through a contested five-day Crown Court trial where evidential submissions and witness accounts were placed before the jury.
Following deliberations on Friday 16 October 2026, the jury dismissed Burton’s defence and returned guilty verdicts on all contested counts.
The trial judge revoked any existing bail conditions and remanded Burton in custody, adjourning final sentencing to Friday 11 December 2026 to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence and dangerousness assessment reports.
Under the provisions of Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all child victims and complainants connected to criminal proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, educational facilities, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Burton stands convicted of:
Three counts of rape of a child
Sexual activity with a child
Two counts of perverting the course of justice
Court status and procedural measures:
Convicted on all counts on the indictment
Remanded in custody pending final sentence
Sentencing scheduled at Lincoln Crown Court on 11 December 2026
Subject to mandatory interim sex offender notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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