Dangerous West Yorkshire 'serial sex predator' given 27-year sentence at Leeds Crown Court for rape and serious sex offences against children

Leslie Housecroft raped two boys and also raped a woman during the offending which took place in the Kirklees area between the early 1990s and 2016.

The 73-year-old also repeatedly sexually abused a young girl and sexually assaulted a second woman.

Leeds Crown Court heard one of the boys was as young as four or five years old when Housecroft first raped him.

Housecroft was sentenced today (May 6) following a trial in March.

He was found guilty of six counts of rape of a child, one count of indecent assault, one count of indecency with a child, one count of sexual assault of a child, one count of rape of a woman and four counts of sexual assault of a woman.

He was told he must serve two-thirds of a 26-year custodial period followed by an extended licence period of one year.

After the case, Acting Detective Sergeant Yvonne Brear of the Kirklees District Safeguarding Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Leslie Housecroft is without doubt a dangerous serial sexual predator who committed some of the most serious sexual offences against victims over a three decade period.

“Rather than admit his guilt, he chose to put those victims through the ordeal of a trial and we welcome the strong sentence imposed on him today.

“I wish to commend the bravery of those victims who came forward and supported both the police investigation and then the prosecution to ensure this man was taken out of our communities.

“We are committed to achieving justice for victims of sexual offending, no matter when those offences took place, and can promise their needs are at the heart of every investigation.”