Paedophile Leonard Swallow of Peddars Close, Ixworth, who has denied two offences of rape, eighteen offences of sexual assault, three offences of sexual activity with a child, and three offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, is before Ipswich Crown Court.
As stated to have been carried out between 2010 and 2021, the offences against four claimed victims are said to be related.
According to claims made throughout the trial, Leonard Swallow raised the girls with junk food, sweets, money, alcohol and smokes and created an atmosphere described as “every child’s dream” – featuring a trampoline and farm animals.
Said Kate Davey, prosecuting, Leonard Swallow had also taken the females, some of whom were reported as “troubled,” to Pleasurewood Hills theme park outside of Lowestoft.
She claimed that Leonard Swallow had got another alleged victim to touch him sexually in his car on a shopping excursion and had sexually assaulted one of the girls during games of hide and search at his bungalow in the little west Suffolk village of Knettishall.
According to Miss Davey, Leonard Swallow allegedly warned one of the girls he wouldn’t let her go home if she didn’t follow instructions. He also mentioned one of the females would get in trouble should she disclose what he had done to anyone.
From the tumult of the girl’s life, she said his house was an “idyllic refuge” and “every child’s dream.”
Providing evidence throughout the trial, Leonard Swallow refuted claims of sexually mistreating the girls.
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