Cardiff 2018-10-05

Colin Leach 41

Sex offender led kids away from mum after asking if they wanted to see dinosaur exhibition in park.

Profile Picture
Offender ID: O-1380

Locations

Aberporth Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff, CF14

Description

A paedophile ordered to sign the sex offender register after touching a girl's bottom in a shopping centre breached an order designed to protect children.

Colin Leach was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after approaching a child in a library, but breached it by going up to a family in Bute Park.

He asked the family if they would like to go into the dinosaur exhibition that was in the partk.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Neil Bidder QC said: "You have got to keep away from children."

Leach was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years, in April 2011 for sexually assaulting a child.

Peter Donnison, prosecuting, said the nine-year-old victim was browsing at Animal in Queens Arcade in Cardiff city centre when Leach approached her from behind.

The court heard he asked her how old she was, then put one hand on her shoulder and the other on her bottom.

Prosecutors said he was ordered to sign the sex offender register, but breached his notification requirements just two months later.

Mr Donnison said he went on to approach a girl in a public library in February 2016.

The court heard he was using the computer next to her and asked: "What time do you usually come to the library?"

Prosecutors said the girl was playing a horror game and the defendant said: "If you get scared, I'll give you a cuddle."

A librarian putting books away overheard and reported the matter to the police.

The court heard Leach was not charged, but the Chief Constable applied for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order as a precautionary measure.

Prosecutors said the breach happened around 1pm on August 14 behind Cardiff Castle in Bute Park.

A woman was in the park with her sister and their children, having just finished their picnic lunch near the dinosaur exhibition.

Mr Donnison said: "The defendant approached them and asked if they would like to see the dinosaurs."

The court heard the woman allowed her children to go in, but became "uneasy" as she realised he may not be part of the exhibition team.

She spoke to security and they advised her to call the police, who attended and spoke to the defendant.

Leach, 35, from Aberporth Road in Cardiff, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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