'The Loony Bin' Armley joke shop formerly owned by convicted sex offender to be sold by Leeds Council

David Slater - described by police as "a dangerous committed paedophile" - was jailed in 2012 for sexually abusing three children.

He was locked up for public protection after a court heard he had shown no remorse.

Officers had discovered his offences against two of the youngsters after seizing computer equipment from his shop and home following information he had been downloading indecent images from the internet.

Examination revealed he had nearly 10,000 pictures and movies of children, including some showing abuse on the boy and girl when they were visiting his shop, the Loony Bin in Armley, Leeds.

Slater was jailed indefinitely in January 2012.

The shop has been closed since the conviction.

A report stated that Leeds Council had bought the dilapidated building via a Compulsory Purchase Order for £76,000.

The site is now one of several council-owned sites expected to go up for auction in the coming months in an attempt to help plug the council’s £119m budget gap for the coming year.

Otley Civic Centre, Temple Newsam’s East Lodge, as well as land at Hill Crest in Swillington and Lea Farm Road in Kirkstall, will all also be put up for sale by auction imminently.

The report read: “Armley ward members have been actively exploring opportunities to deliver a community use for the property at 100 Town Street.

"Given that a viable solution could not be identified, it is considered that the property lends itself to disposal via auction.”

The report, to be discussed at next week’s executive board meeting, did not make clear how much money was expected to be made from the sales.

A report which went before councillors in January 2020 said the authority was expected to raise around £95m by selling dozens of sites across the city between 2019 and 2022.

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Laura Collins