Leeds criminal makes prison confession over offences after '˜finding God'

A DANGEROUS criminal contacted police from prison and confessed to a spate of violent robberies after 'finding God', a court heard.
Dillon McLeish.Dillon McLeish.
Dillon McLeish.

Dillon McLeish sat down with officers and recounted his role in 37 unsolved crimes, including nine robberies and 23 burglaries committed in the Leeds area. McLeish is already serving an indeterminate sentence, imposed in 2012, for stabbing a man in the chest four times as he robbed him.

The 26-year-old was returned to Leeds Crown Court to be sentenced for offences which he carried out before those for which he is currently in custody for. Alisha Kaye, prosecuting, said McLeish admitted to offences which took place between 2004 and 2011.

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He was part of masked gang of four men who targeted Sholebrook News, on Sholebrook Mount, in 2008.

The court heard how a woman working in the shop was threatened and had an imitation firearm pointed at her before cash and cigarettes were stolen.

McLeish pleaded guilty to two offences of robbery and asked for 35 further offences to be taken into consideration by the court.

Miss Kaye said “He said he had now found God and wanted to clear his history.”

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James Littlehales, for McLeish: “It is a very unusual set of circumstances to ask police to attend a prison and effectively to admit every offence they have ever committed.”

McLeish was given an indeterminate sentence in 2012, when he was told he must serve a minimum of four years in custody. He is currently being held at Newton Lodge secure hospital unit in Wakefield. McLeish was given a further 16 month sentence for his latest offences.

It means he eligible to apply to parole board for release in eight months but was warned he will not be considered for release until he is no longer considered a danger to the public.