Man found guilty of child rape and perverting justice at Lincoln Crown Court
Leon Burton to be sentenced later this year
Leon Burton has been found guilty of raping a child multiple times and perverting the course of justice by jurors at Lincoln Crown Court.
Burton, 37, previously of St Mary’s Crescent, Stow, had denied three charges of rape and one of perverting the course of justice during the five-day trial last week.
However, jurors determined on Friday, 16th October, that he was guilty of the offences. Burton had already pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual activity with a child and another charge of perverting the course of justice.
The offences relate to a single victim and took place in the Stow area between 2025 and 2026.
He is set to be sentenced on 11th December.
During the investigation, police divers and dogs were deployed to find two mobile phones that Burton allegedly tried to dispose of. One phone is believed to have been thrown into water, with Burton admitting to destroying the other.
Detective Constable James Lindsay, who led the case, highlighted Burton's attempts to evade justice, praising the bravery of the victim for helping to expose the offences and assisting the investigation teams.
DC Lindsay said, “The safety and wellbeing of children is at the heart of everything we do, and we’ll leave no stone unturned in our investigations to ensure they get the support they need.”
The case underscores the important work of the Protection for Vulnerable Persons (PVP) teams, with efforts underway to bolster resources as part of Lincolnshire Police's transformation project, aiming to bring more offenders to justice.
Victims of rape or sexual assault are urged to report offences to police, with Lincolnshire Police providing guidance and support for those affected.
Support for victims is available via Lincolnshire Police's website, along with details for reporting such offences.