Sex offender led children away from their mother

Reporter A SEX offender led children away from their mum after asking if they wanted to see a dinosaur exhibition in a Cardiff park.

A court heard how paedophile Colin Leach had previously been ordered to sign the sex offender register after touching a girl’s bottom in a shopping centre.

Leach was later made subject to a sexual harm prevention order – designed to protect children – after approaching a child in a library – but he breached the order by going up to a family in Bute Park.

On Friday, Cardiff Crown Court heard he asked the family if they would like to go into the dinosaur exhibition that was in the park.

Sentencing him, 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.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said his client had been affected by mental health problems. Colin Leach, 35, from Aberporth Road in Cardiff, admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order

He stressed Leach did not approach the children directly, instead approaching their mother, and he never took them more than a few feet away from her.

The court heard Leach had never been to prison before.

Judge Bidder noted there was no physical contact with the children, but described it as a “preparatory offence”.

He told the defendant: “These requirements are to protect children and they have got to be followed to the letter by those who have them imposed, otherwise public confidence will be diminished and children will be put at risk.”

Leach was jailed for 18 weeks and the judge warned him: “This must stop. Otherwise they are going to be longer and longer sentences.”