July 2013
Man convicted of 39 counts of child sexual abuse
Leslie Burrell was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court today of 39 counts of child sexual abuse including rape, sexual activity with a child and taking indecent photographs of a child. He will be sentenced on 11 July.
Andrew Baxter, CPS London Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “Burrell is a prolific sexual offender who preyed mainly on young boys over a period of more than three decades. He carried out hundreds of acts of sexual abuse in the Bromley area between 1972 and 2007.
“Burrell gained the trust of his victims before cruelly exploiting this trust in order to carry out repeated sexual abuse.
“Today he has finally been brought to justice thanks to the courage of his victims to come forward and speak out against their abuser.
“I would like to thank all the victims for supporting this prosecution. They showed great bravery in giving evidence and we were able to support them with special measures according to their needs.
“This meant that some of the victims gave their evidence by means of a pre-recorded video and from behind a screen, shielding them from having to face the defendant.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has made tackling child sexual abuse a national priority and last month the Director of Public Prosecutions launched new interim guidelines for prosecutors dealing with child sexual abuse cases.
“CPS London is committed to working with its partners in the police and other agencies to ensure that those that abuse and exploit children are brought to justice.”
Convictions:
Victim A
1, 2, 4, 5: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
3: Indecency with a child (Indecency with Children Act 1960)
Victim B
6, 7: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
Victim C
8, 9: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
Victim D
10, 11: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
12: Buggery of a male under 16 (SOA 1956)
Victim E
13: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
Victim F
14, 15: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
16: Rape (SOA 1956)
Victim G
17: Indecent assault on a male under the age of 16 (SOA 1956)
18, 19: Rape (SOA 1956)
Victim H
20, 21: Rape (SOA 1956)
22, 23: Indecent assault on a male person (SOA 1956)
24, 26: Rape of a child under 13 (SOA 2003)
25, 27: Rape (SOA 2003)
Victim I
29, 31-33: Sexual activity with a child (SOA2003)
Victim J
35, 36: Rape of a child under 13
40: Inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
Victim K
37: Rape of a child under 13
38: Sexual activity with a child under 13
39: Causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
Victim L
41: Sexual activity with a child
Other convictions:
34: Taking indecent photographs of a child (Protection of Children Act 1978)
