Leroy Wesley Allen

A man from Willington, County Durham, has been imprisoned for eight years after admitting to sexually exploiting two underage girls. Leroy Wesley Allen, aged 22, targeted the victims by applying pressure and manipulation to engage in sexual acts with them, as detailed in proceedings at Durham Crown Court.

The court heard evidence from prosecutor Paul Cleasby, who outlined how Allen first approached one of the girls, providing her with alcohol before engaging in sexual activity and taking her virginity. Despite the girl's explicit request to stop and her unwillingness to continue, Allen coerced her into further encounters. He exerted control over her by confiscating her mobile phone and isolating her from others. The victim eventually confided in a friend, but Allen persuaded her to maintain secrecy about the abuse. This pattern of behaviour persisted until 2017, when news of Allen's prior imprisonment for grooming young girls prompted her to come forward.

A second girl also reported similar manipulation by Allen, with police examining text messages in which he criticised her sexual responsiveness, describing her sex drive as 'miniscule'. Both victims provided personal statements detailing the profound impact of the offences. One described her life as a 'nightmare' that induced suicidal thoughts and resulted in a depression diagnosis. The other required therapy for depression and experienced academic setbacks due to the resulting stress.

Allen's criminal history included a previous conviction in December 2016, for which he served a one-year sentence. At that time, he had posed as the manager of the Durham nightclub Jimmy Allens, soliciting underage girls to send images of themselves in underwear or bikinis under the pretence of hostess job opportunities. This involved charges of inciting an underage child to engage in sexual activity and facilitating a child sex act.

In mitigation, Dan Cordy argued that Allen's time in prison had allowed him to mature, citing a psychological report that portrayed him as a 'troubled young man' indulging in a 'fantasy life'. Cordy noted Allen's remorse, expressing a desire to apologise to the victims and his family. Recorder Euan Duff, however, imposed a total sentence of eight years' imprisonment on Allen, who was emotional throughout the hearing. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued indefinitely, and Allen was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The case was reported by Katie MacFarlane for The Northern Echo, highlighting ongoing concerns over child sexual exploitation in the Weardale and Durham areas.