Child-rapist pilot arrested after landing at airport
JAILED PERVERT TOLD VICTIM HE FEARED DAMAGE TO HIS REPUTATION
I commend the bravery of this young girl for confiding in someone Det Con Stewart Garratt
A PILOT arrested after landing a flight at Manchester Airport has been jailed for raping a child.
Tevin McLeod was detained by police when he flew into Manchester on Saturday, September 7.
The following day the 28-year-old was charged with the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.
A mugshot, issued by police, appears to show him still in his pilot’s uniform.
Police say McLeod initially denied the offences, but Birmingham Crown Court heard he had sent a number of messages to the girl acknowledging the abuse in a desperate bid to stop her reporting the sickening crimes.
In the messages, he spoke about his reputation being tarnished if people found out about the attacks, which happened between 2015 and 2016.
He also told the girl he would lose his career as a pilot and go to jail because she was under age.
McLeod, of no fixed address, later admitted to the rape and sexual assault and was jailed.
He was sentenced to sevenand-a-half years in prison and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on his release. Det Con Stewart Garratt, from West Midlands Police’s Birmingham Child Abuse Public Protection Team, praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward.
He said: “For a child to speak out and report sexual abuse is a huge deal for them and I commend the bravery of this young girl for confiding in someone.
“It’s for these sorts of crimes involving children that we have a dedicated specialist department with officers specially trained to help young people through the judicial process.
“I’ve no doubt that the voice of this child has stopped other children being targeted.”