Leon Beckham, 43, from Sandilands Close, Coventry, was sentenced to five years in prison on June 26 after being convicted of six counts of sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17, as well as abusing a position of trust. The offences took place over several months during 2024.
Abuse During Day Trips
West Midlands Police said Beckham used trips to places across the country as opportunities to sexually abuse the girl. The abuse came to light after concerns were raised about their relationship and the victim bravely came forward to tell police what had happened.
Arrest and Evasion
Officers launched an investigation and arrested Beckham, who gave a "no comment" interview. Police said he later failed to answer his bail and repeatedly moved around the country in an attempt to avoid being caught. When officers eventually tracked him down to an address in Hastings, East Sussex, they found him hiding underneath a bed.
Denial and Conviction
After being arrested again, Beckham denied the offences and accused the girl of blackmailing him. However, police said he was unable to explain why she would have blackmailed him or why he had apparently deleted text messages which he claimed would have supported his defence. A jury later found him guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 17 and one count of abusing a position of trust.
Sentence and Restrictions
As well as being jailed for five years, Beckham was handed a lifetime ban on working with children. He was also placed on the National Sex Offenders Register for life.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Craig Hall, from West Midlands Police's Eastern Public Protection Unit, said: "Leon Beckham knew his actions were illegal and wrong and went to extreme lengths to avoid being arrested including hiding under a bed and moving to a different part of the country. An extra thank you should go to DC Ruth Russell. Without her tireless work, we would not have been able to build the case against Beckham or secure a conviction. We would urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted or groomed to come forward and tell your story. However long ago it happened, we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of this kind of abuse to justice."
