In a shocking case that has sent ripples through the British legal establishment, a former senior Crown Prosecutor has been jailed for a catalogue of depraved child sex offences. Paul Leask, 58, who once helped put members of notorious organised crime gang 'Underbelly' behind bars, is now beginning a 12-year prison sentence himself.
Leask's double life was exposed after a major investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA). He was convicted of 15 charges, including attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of a child under 13, possessing and making indecent images of children, and extreme pornography.
A Web of Depravity
Edinburgh's High Court heard how Leask used encrypted messaging apps to discuss his vile intentions with others. In deeply disturbing conversations, he talked about abusing a fictional two-year-old child and expressed a desire to abuse a real toddler. The court was told he requested live video footage of child abuse and discussed meeting another individual to carry out abuse together.
When NCA officers raided his home in the Scottish Borders, they uncovered a stash of Category A indecent images—the most severe kind—on his electronic devices. This evidence painted a clear picture of a man deeply involved in the dark world of child exploitation.
From Prosecutor to Predator
Leask's fall from grace is particularly stark given his former role. As a Procurator Fiscal Depute, he was entrusted with prosecuting serious crimes, including those committed by the 'Underbelly' gang—a group he would later be compared to by the sentencing judge for his own predatory behaviour.
Jennifer Harrower, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, stated: "Paul Leask held a position of trust... His actions were a gross betrayal of that trust. He now faces the consequences of his crimes."
He will also be subject to an extended supervision period of four years upon his release and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
