Boy, 14, sentenced over 'predatory' sex attacks

The boy was aged 13 when he sexually assaulted two women and followed another in the Newfoundpool area of Leicester

A teenager has been given a three-and-a-half year sentence after he sexually assaulted two women and followed a third while armed with a knife.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 14 but was 13 at the time of the offences, which took place in the space of three weeks in Leicester in 2024.

Police believe he would have gone on to target more women if he had not been caught.

Det Con Gemma Fox said: "It is hard to understand why a child of 13 years of age was intent on carrying out such shocking crimes and I hope the time he spends in custody will give him the opportunity to remorsefully think about what he has done."

The first incident took place in Ruby Street, Leicester, on 10 July when the teenager approached a woman and held a knife to her face, pushed her to the ground and demanded she perform a sex act before he sexually assaulted her.

The boy then followed a woman in Stephenson Drive on 29 July.

Police said he was believed to have been armed with a knife and followed the woman on to a driveway, before she screamed and he ran off.

The third incident took place on 1 August when a woman in Rowan Street realised she was being followed and turned around to confront the boy, who was again armed with a knife.

He then indecently exposed himself and forced his victim to touch him, but was then disturbed by residents of a nearby home and ran away.

Leicestershire Police initially started investigating each case separately, but then realised the offences had been committed by the same person due to the description of the suspect and the similarities between the incidents.

Patrols were stepped up in the Newfoundpool area and a youth matching the suspect's description was stopped by officers in Fosse Road North on the evening of 1 August.

He was carrying a knife and wearing the same clothing in CCTV footage of the offences.

'Terrifying experiences'

The boy pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted robbery and two counts of possession of a knife in August 2024.

He was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday.

He will serve his sentence at a young offender institution.

Det Con Fox said the victims had been "subjected to terrifying experiences by a teenager displaying predatory and aggressive behaviour".

She added: "These women have shown immense courage in coming forward and engaging with us, reliving their encounters which I am sure they would want to forget.

"I want to praise them for their strength and commitment in supporting our investigation and the court proceedings."