April 2015

Paedophile who abused two young girls aged 9 & 11 jailed for JUST 17 months

A serial sex offender who carried out sex attacks on two Coatbridge schoolgirls more than 30 years ago has been jailed for 17 months.

Paedophile Leonard McAuley, 64, also has a conviction for sex assaults on girls in Northern Ireland, where he was jailed for four years in 1994.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard last week that McAuley indecently assaulted one of the girls, then aged between nine and 11, at two houses in Coatbridge between 1984 and 1986.

He forced the young girl to carry out a variety of sex acts on him, indecently attacked her and performed a sex act in front of her.

McAuley, of Ballymena in Northern Ireland, also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting another young Coatbridge girl, then aged nine, at a house in Coatbridge on one occasion in 1985.

His two victims, now aged 40 and 38, cannot be named for legal reasons.

He had been due to stand trial before a jury at Airdrie Sheriff Court in January but he changed his plea to guilty at the last minute, saving the women the stress of having to give evidence and relive their abuse.

This week both of the women tabled victim impact statements for Sheriff Frank Pieri to consider before sentencing McAuley.

Prosecutor Anne Frances Hilley told the court: “He is originally from Northern Ireland but moved to Coatbridge in the 1970s, when he stayed in Townhead. He returned to Ballymena in the late 1980s.

“The first of his Coatbridge victims told how she was indecently assaulted on a number of occasions over a three-year period until she was 11 years old. She finally went to police in May 2008, when she made a statement and extensive inquiries were carried out.”

Defence counsel Tony Lenaghan said: “There were events in the late 1960s and early 1990s, during which time he committed similar offences in Northern Ireland and was jailed in 1994 for four years.

“His time in prison was a time of rehabilitation. These offences pre-date his time in prison in Northern Ireland.

“He sits in the dock with his bag in hand, knowing the powers of the court.”

Referring to a letter written by McAuley’s sister, his advocate told the sheriff: “You can see that she is proud of the man he now is – not the man he once was.

“She speaks about him undergoing some form of transformation.

“The last 20 years have proved that his initial punishment worked and had effect.”

He added: “This is a man who carries out manual labour on a voluntary basis. He can turn his hand to any type of work and we could deal with this by way of community service. He can work and he enjoys working.

Sentencing McAuley, Sheriff Pieri told him: “The fact remains these are very serious offences you have pleaded guilty to and prison is the only possible disposal.

“It would normally have been a sentence of 21 months but I have reduced it to 17 months because of your early plea.”

McAuley was put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

January 2015

Paedophile admits sordid sex attacks on two Coatbridge schoolgirls

A SERIAL sex offender – whose crimes stretch back almost half a century – has admitted a string of sordid attacks on two young Coatbridge schoolgirls from 30 years ago.

Predatory paedophile Leonard McAuley, 64, who now lives in his native Northern Ireland, has a previous conviction for sexual assaults on girls and was jailed for four years in the 1990s.

Depraved McAuley indecently assaulted one of the youngsters on a number of occasions, while she was aged between nine and 11, at two houses in Coatbridge, between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 1986.

He forced the terrified young girl to carry out a variety of vile sex acts, indecently attacked her and performed a sex act in front of her.

McAuley, of Devenagh Way, Ballymena, also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting another young Coatbridge girl, then aged just nine, by performing a sex act on her and attempting to perform another, at a house in Coatbridge, on one occasion between February 23, 1985, and July 1, 1985.

He was due to go to trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court on Monday before a jury, where his two victims, now aged 40 and 38 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, were cited and expected to give evidence.

However, following negotiations, McAuley changed his plea to guilty at the last moment, saving the women from the ordeal of giving evidence and re-living the horrific abuse at the hands of the vile abuser, who first appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court charged with the offences on April 15, 2013.

Prosecutor Anne Frances Hilley explained: “He is originally from Northern Ireland, but moved to Coatbridge in the 1970s and stayed in Townhead with his wife and step-daughter.

“He returned to Ballymena in the late 1980s.

“The first of his Coatbridge victims told how she was indecently assaulted on a number of occasions over a three-year period until she was 11 years old. She finally went to police in May 2008, when she made a statement and extensive inquiries were carried out.”

Defence counsel, advocate Tony Lenaghan, said: “We will hear, when the reports are prepared, of events in the late 1960s and early 1990s, during which time he committed similar offences in Northern Ireland and was jailed in 1994 for four years.”

Sentence was deferred until next month after Sheriff Frank Pieri called for a full background report into McAuley, including a risk assessment of the danger he poses to children.

McAuley was released on bail and put on the Sex Offenders’ Register.