8 September 2011
ECPAT UK welcomes the news that the British national Michael Julian Leach has been convicted and sentenced by the Cambodian authorities for a total of 12 years' imprisonment for the sexual abuse of three Cambodian children, one as young as 10 years old. The court also ordered that Leach will have to pay compensation to one of the children. The other two children have already received compensation.
Christine Beddoe, director of ECPAT UK, said: “The Cambodian authorities should be congratulated for the work they have done in bringing justice to children, however, much more needs to be done on this case and others like it to identify how the UK could have prevented the abuse taking place.
“A thorough case review should take place looking at what the UK authorities knew about Leach’s activities before he was arrested by the Cambodian police.”
Leach, a former government adviser, does not automatically go on the UK Sex Offender Register and will have to return to the UK before steps can be taken to do so. ECPAT UK believes this is a major weakness in the UK’s approach to protecting children.
Media contact: Christine Beddoe, 07906 341 889
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