‘YOU BEHAVED IN A WAY THAT IS APPALLING’
Husband and wife in court over sex offences
A CONVICTED paedophile is behind bars over ‘appalling’ sex offences
- one of which his wife helped him carry out.
Paul Leon, care of Hall Street, Burslem, was jailed for 15 months at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court on Wednesday.
Leon, 59, who has previous convictions for sexually abusing children in the 1980s and 1990s, appeared alongside his wife Christine, 60.
She left Stoke-on-trent Crown Court with a two-year community order for aiding and abetting Leon to commit a sexual offence.
Outlining the case against Leon, prosecutor Antony Longworth said: “Paul Leon suggested they all sleep together. He had sexual intercourse with Christine and with the victim, with Christine participating throughout.”
The court heard the woman victim made a complaint to police.
In a statement, she said she felt damaged and couldn’t move on.
Robert Cowley, mitigating for Leon, who admitted the offences, conceded his client faced an immediate jail sentence.
He said: “When he is released he will have no home, no job and no family. His relationship with his wife is now over. He does not enjoy the best of health. He had a stroke.”
Christine Leon, of Nethercote Place, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to the charge against her. Hamish Noble, representing Christine Leon, said it was an isolated offence. He added: “Her actions were entirely improper.”
The community order includes a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month mental health treatment requirement.
Judge David Fletcher told the victim: “Whatever I do today and however I deal with the two defendants there is nothing that I can do to right the wrongs that have been perpetrated against you and I apologise for that. Your voice has been heard in these
proceedings.” The judge told the defendants: “You two were thinking completely and only of your own sexual satisfaction. You behaved in a way that is appalling.”
Paul Leon was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.