Disgraced vicar's three words to police after Snapchat messages with 'under-age girls' exposed
A former Merseyside vicar sent filthy online messages to two people he believed were under-age girls. The disgraced cleric Andrew Leatherbarrow engaged in the increasingly sexualised chats, including talking about spanking, as “a distraction from work stresses and boredom,” his lawyer said.
Unknown to him he was actually communicating with two under-cover police officers and today (Monday, October 21) Leatherbarrow, whose seedy behaviour included sending photos of a chocolate penis, appeared in court for sentencing. Imposing a 12-month suspended jail sentence Judge Simon Medland, KC, said that he had been a vicar for several years “however in recent times you allowed your mind to wander down a very dark path.
“There is no doubt you were indulging yourself sexually by chatting in a smutty way with under-age persons and you were prepared to carry on doing that.” 56-year-old Leatherbarrow, who was suspended from his post as vicar at All Saints Church in Stoneycroft, Liverpool after the offences came to light, admitted two charges of attempted sexual communication with a child to obtain sexual gratification.
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Frank Dillon, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that an under-cover officer created the online fictional persona of a 12-year-old girl called Hollie on the platforms, Randochat and Snapchat. On January 30 last year ‘Hollie’ received a message from Leatherbarrow who was using the profile Harry Jones UK.
She said she was 12 and he said he was 48. The next day using the profile ‘riphunter2022’ he messaged her on Snapchat and over the next week he engaged “in a mix of sexualised and general chats.”
He encouraged her to swear and he asked about boyfriends and at one point he told her she was "a naughty girl" and he liked her. He sent her an image of a chocolate penis and said it was modelled on him.
He asked her to come over and amuse him and said he lived in Widnes. At one stage he said he could take Hollie "for a ride and a burger."
Mr Dillon said he instigated a chat about spanking, suggested a practical biology session and asked her about masturbation. Around the same time another under-cover officer was using the same platforms purporting to be a 13-year-old girl called Jaz from Kendal.
Leatherbarrow began chatting despite knowing she was allegedly 13 and made inappropriate remarks. Mr Dillon said: “He said that spanking could be fun and was a sex game." He also posted an image of a chocolate penis similar to the one he sent to Hollie.
He was arrested on February 9 and when officers said they wanted to speak to the user of the two online accounts he said, "yes, it’s me." When cautioned he said: "I’m not going to deny I've had those chats but I did not think it was a sexual act."
David Polglase, defending, said that Leatherbarrow had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty. The defendant, now of Wellington Street, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, had resigned from his post, he added.
The court heard that he had worked in the university scientific community before becoming a vicar and has been offered a job at Tesco Express in Colne and has an interview with Ikea. Mr Polglase said “he went down a road seeking distraction from work stresses and boredom in a wholly inappropriate fashion.”
Judge Medland said that a reference from Rev Jane Morgan showed he has insight and is adamant that he will not re-offend which she believes to be true. He ordered Leatherbarrow to carry out 30 days rehabilitation activities and ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. He suspended the 12 month jail term for two years.
The defendant formerly of Saints Close, Old Swan, had denied three other charges involving attempted sexual communication, attempting to incite a child to watch a sex act and making an indecent image and these have been left to lie on the file.
He was cleared of possessing a prohibited image. The defendant previously served as assistant curate at St Ann's Parish Church in Rainhill near St Helens on Merseyside.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath said: “I welcome today’s sentence and thank all those in Merseyside Police who brought this case. I will be taking the necessary action in my power with regard to Mr Leatherbarrow starting by accepting his resignation.
"I take safeguarding very seriously and will ensure the diocese deal with any matters like this swiftly, fairly and decisively. I also encourage anyone who if affected by this case or has any safeguarding concerns to raise it with the appropriate authorities."