Rapist, 19, who kept ‘murder manual’ of 30 intended victims is jailed


A sexual predator who kept a ‘murder manual’ of his 30 intended victims has been jailed.
Harry Leigh, 19, wanted to be known as the ‘Red Ribbon Killer of Hastings’ and made plans to kill young girls and leave red ribbons by their bodies.
Police searched Leigh’s home in Hastings, Sussex, after he was arrested for the rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl whom he had offered to help with her homework.

During the search, police discovered a murder manual, plastic sheeting, maps and a collection of knives.

Following his arrest, many more victims came forward who had been attacked by him.

During a trial at Hove Crown Court, the unemployed teen pleaded guilty to five counts of inciting four girls aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity, eight counts of causing seven girls aged between 12 and 15 to watch a sexual act and three counts of making indecent images of children in January 2018.

He was sentenced to eight years in jail with an extended prison release licence of six years for the rape of the schoolgirl.
In a victim impact statement the schoolgirl 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.’

The court heard Leigh’s offending had started when he was just 13 years old and became increasingly serious.

Heather Stangoe, prosecuting, said: ‘He is a persistent sexual offender whose crimes have become increasingly grave as he has grown up.’

It was while he was under investigation for the rape, that police were alerted to a report from a girl Leigh had messaged, saying he wanted to be a serial killer. He had also posted some tweets about wanting to kill people.

Judge David Rennie told Leigh that psychiatric assessments showed he had psychopathic traits.

He said: ‘During their investigations police found a folder in relation to a character called the Red Ribbon Killer.

‘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 either killer was to operate, and a list of some 30 intended victims.’

Leigh was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a 15 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to computers and children under 16.