Mother of murdered Libby Squire backs call for tougher rules on repeat sex offenders
Lisa Squire is backing Leah's Law campaign, launched by Leah Crouchers parents
The mother of murdered High Wycombe student Libby Squire has backed a petition calling for mandatory prison sentences for repeat sex offenders, as the campaign reaches more than 100,000 signatures.
Lisa Squire, whose daughter Libby was murdered in 2019, has thrown her support behind Leah’s Law, a campaign launched by the family of murdered Milton Keynes teenager Leah Croucher.
The petition calls for anyone convicted of a third sexual offence to receive a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
Lisa believes repeat offenders must face tougher consequences, arguing that the current system allows people to continue offending without adequate punishment.
“It makes perfect sense,” she told Greatest Hits Radio News.
“If you get 12 points on your licence, you’ll get your licence taken away. So, how we can allow sex offenders to just continually repeat offend is beyond me?”
She added: “If you offend three times, you should go to prison. You're not learning from your punishment.”
Libby, a 21-year-old University of Hull student, was raped and murdered by convicted sex offender Pawel Relowicz in February 2019.
Relowicz had previously been convicted of offences including voyeurism and exposure.
Lisa also believes non-contact sexual offences should be included in Leah’s Law, highlighting how quickly her daughter’s killer progressed from non-contact sexual offending to rape and murder.
“Within 18 months, he’d gone from voyeurism and exposure to rape and murder,” she said.
“Non-contact offences are very often red flag offences.”
Leah's Law
The campaign was launched by Leah’s parents, John and Claire Croucher, after the teenager disappeared while walking to work in Milton Keynes on February 15, 2019.
Her body was discovered more than three years later in the loft of a house in Furzton.
Her killer, Neil Maxwell, had a history of serious sexual offending. Just months before Leah disappeared, he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and received a community order.
Leah’s Law has now passed more than 100,000 signatures, meaning it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said their 'thoughts remain with Leah Croucher’s family and friends' and it is 'deeply sorry for the failings in this case.'
They added: “After an in-depth review we’ve taken action to strengthen how we risk assess sex offenders while ensuring complex cases are assigned to more experienced probation officers.
“Sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with Sentencing Guidelines, but our message is clear – repeat offenders must face consequences that cut crime and protect the public.”