In 1997, the Offender Database recorded that Steven Leisk, then 34, committed the murder of nine-year-old Scott Simpson. On appearing at the High Court in Aberdeen in November 1997, the defendant, of Aberdeen, was sentenced to life imprisonment. It was reported that Leisk, a devious paedophile who had only been out of prison for seven months, lured the schoolboy from a playpark near his home by offering him a cigarette and computer games before subjecting him to a violent and fatal assault.
The investigation established the predatory and persistent nature of Leisk’s behaviour. Police Scotland (formerly Grampian Police) reported that Leisk led the child into bushes, where he attempted a sexual assault. When the boy resisted, Leisk strangled him with a scarf. The prosecution reported that the victim suffered extensive bruising and swelling to his head and was found with his hands in front of his face, having tried to protect himself from the monstrous violence.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Leisk showed a total lack of remorse following the killing. Aberdeen High Court heard that after hiding the body, Leisk went to work the next day and resumed his normal life. The investigation established that by the time officers arrived at his door four days later, Leisk was already grooming two other teenage boys. A search of his history revealed he had been convicted of sex offences against children on four previous occasions, including a seven-year sentence for a prior horrific assault.
Lord Johnston sentenced Leisk to life with a minimum term of 25 years, though this was later reduced to 20 years in 2002 to comply with human rights legislation. For his actions in Aberdeen, Leisk has now served over 22 years and has made multiple applications for release on licence. The judge noted that every psychiatric report carried out on the defendant described him as devious, manipulative, and likely to pose a lifelong risk to children.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Scotland, the status of Steven Leisk is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Life imprisonment (Sentenced 1997).
- Minimum Term: 20 years (Expired 2017; currently serving the “tail” of the sentence).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the High Court in Aberdeen following a Grampian Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Murder; Attempted sexual assault; 4 previous convictions for child sex offences.
- Origin: Aberdeen, Scotland.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Leisk is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of scrutiny. Due to the nature of his conduct in Aberdeen, which involved the monstrous killing of a child less than three weeks before his 10th birthday, his management remains a national priority. Authorities state that his history of immediate reoffending—grooming new victims while his previous victim’s body was still hidden—necessitates that he remains in a secure, child-free environment.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Leisk would be subject to the most stringent notification requirements if ever released. Authorities state that his history of atrocious violence and his refusal to show genuine remorse necessitate permanent vigilance. Scott Simpson’s family continues to petition the Parole Board for Scotland to keep him behind bars, arguing that his deceptive nature and established pattern of targeting children mean he remains a fundamental danger to society.
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