A 40-year-old Nottinghamshire man who subjected an underage girl to prolonged sexual abuse, covertly recorded her, and threatened to distribute the footage online to stop her reporting him has been sentenced to nine years and ten months’ imprisonment at Nottingham Crown Court.
Lee Saxton, residing in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, admitted a series of serious sexual offences, child sexual exploitation, and violent assaults on the day his trial was scheduled to commence before the jury.
Prosecutor Jeremy Janes outlined that Saxton was fully aware the victim was a child from the very beginning of their contact on social media. Approximately four months after meeting, Saxton coerced the child into sexual acts and repeatedly filmed her without her knowledge or consent. He then retained the digital recordings as “collateral”, warning the victim that if she reported his abusive behaviour to the authorities, he would upload the material directly onto Facebook.
The child initially disclosed to police that Saxton had strangled her and forced her face into a car’s steering wheel, but remained hesitant to reveal the full extent of the abuse due to his threats, portraying him as an online acquaintance. Although Saxton was subsequently arrested and released on court bail with strict conditions to remain away from her, he ignored the prohibitions and resumed his sexual abuse.
During a subsequent attack at a caravan site in Lincolnshire, Saxton became enraged and launched a violent assault, biting the girl across her forehead, nose, arms, and finger. He then strangled her, cutting off her breathing whilst telling her: “Die, no-one gives a fuck about you.”
The victim dialled 999 in fear for her life, but Saxton wrestled the device from her hands and terminated the connection. Arriving police units found the caravan deserted before tracing the child to a nearby public house bearing facial bruising. After she attempted to conceal his presence by placing a phone call to a man using the pseudonym “Steve” who gave a false address, officers deduced the individual was Saxton, intervened to safeguard the child, and referred the case to social services.
On the morning his trial was due to start at Nottingham Crown Court, Saxton pleaded guilty to:
Eight counts of sexual activity with a child
One count of intentional strangulation
One count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
One count of sexual communication with a child
One count of causing the sexual exploitation of a child
Sentencing proceedings were initially delayed after Saxton claimed chest pains and attended hospital. The following day, he refused to attend court via the video link facility from prison, stating to custodial staff that he was “too tired” to participate.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, the child victim is protected by mandatory, lifelong statutory anonymity. Any publication, broadcast, or public dissemination of information capable of leading to her identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Sentencing Saxton in his absence, Recorder William Davis highlighted the profound emotional manipulation and power imbalance, stating: “You knew from the outset any sexual activity with her was wrong and should not have happened.”
Recorder Davis imposed an immediate prison sentence of nine years and ten months. The court also made Saxton subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered that he comply with statutory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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