Worcester man jailed for 30 months for sex offences
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A man has been jailed for 30 months after committing a series of sexual offences.
Richard Leighfield, aged 53, of Home Meadow, Worcester was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today (23 January).
In December 2024, he pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and has been handed a sexual harm prevention order.
Leighfield was arrested in August 2024, after he instigated sexual conversations with an online child profile purporting to be a 13-year-old girl. During these conversations, which took place between 30 July and 20 August, he gave instructions to the ‘girl’ to carry out sexual acts on herself and encouraged her to watch and engage in a sexual act.
At the time of his arrest indecent images, which he had made, were found hidden on his phone. These include one category A - the highest category, eight category B and ten category C photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.
Detective Constable Giuseppe Saladino from West Mercia Police’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET), said: “Leighfield demonstrated predatory behaviour towards children and was responsible for making horrific images.
"Fortunately his behaviour was intercepted by an online child profile, but this is no way lessens the seriousness of his offences.
"We will continue to work diligently to protect children and young people from harm, by bringing predators like Leighfield to justice.”
To report any concerns about anything you may have seen online, or if you would like more information or advice, please contact the following organisations:
Contact the Stop It Now! child sexual abuse helpline - Stop It Now
Help & Support during Indecent Images investigations (saferlives.com)
SJM, Corporate Communications