Teen Boy Who Abused Many Also Planned On Murdering Alot, But Is Apprehended Before Carrying Out The Killings

A teenage rapist who wanted to be a serial killer and kept a 'murder manual' has been jailed for eight years.

Harry Leigh, 19, wrote up a hit list of people he wanted to kill which included some of the girls, aged as young as 12, who he abused.

He wanted to be know as the 'Red Ribbon Killer of Hastings' and documented his preparations in a notebook he kept.

Police uncovered the book when they arrested Leigh for the r-pe of a 15-year-old girl who he had met when he offered to help her with homework.

Jailing Leigh this week, Judge David Rennie said psychiatric assessments showed he had 'psychopathic' traits.

The judge said: 'During their investigations, police found a folder relation to a character called the Red Ribbon Killer.'

He told Leigh: 'There were photos of you in that persona, there were studies of serial killers around the world, expressions of hatred against certain individuals, taunts to the police for not catching the killer before he commits his offences, a detailed map of the hunting ground where the killer was to operate, and a list of some 30 intended victims.'

In a harrowing impact statement, his victim said: 'It's hard to put into words all the ways this has affected my life and who I thought I was going to be.

'I don't feel comfortable in my own skin and I feel that looking at me can always tell. I have nightmares almost every night.

'I can't stuff the feelings back inside. I'm still full of anger and resentment at what happened. I know I'm getting better but I don't know if I will ever feel differently.'

Leigh was convicted at Hove Crown Court of one count of r-pe of a 15-year-old girl in Hastings in August 2017.

He had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of inciting four girls aged between 13 and 15 to engage in s-xual activity, between 2015 and 2018, and eight counts of causing seven girls aged between 12 and 15 to watch a sexual act, between 2013 and 2018.

He also admitted three counts of making indecent images of children in January 2018, including images at Category A, the most serious category.

Leigh was also cleared of blackmail of a girl in 2017 to 2018 and two counts of s-xual assault against two separate girls in 2014 and 2018.

A charge of possessing a kitchen knife, was discontinued during the trial.

He was given an extended sentence and is expected to serve four years behind bars, then serve 10 years on licence.

He was placed on the s-x offender register for life and was given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) severely restricting his access to computers and to children under 16.