A man has been found guilty of 11 offences including sexual assault by touching on a girl under the age of 13 and false imprisonment.
Leslie Belcher, aged 67, of St Clement’s Close, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday (20 June), where his five-day trial concluded.
The jury heard how, between November 2012 and July 2020, Belcher abused a girl who was aged between six and 13 at the time.
Belcher was arrested in July 2020 after he was reported to police, and he was subsequently charged in February 2021.
On Friday, almost five years after his arrest and 13 years on from when he first assaulted his victim, Belcher was found guilty of 11 offences:-
- False imprisonment
- 10 counts of sexual assault by touching on a girl under 13
DC Tracy Ruff from Worcester’s Crime and Vulnerability Investigations Department said: “I’d firstly like to commend the victim for her bravery and resilience throughout the investigation.
“Belcher’s actions undoubtedly caused immense suffering. The victim showed huge amounts of courage to come forward to report his awful crimes.
“We now wait for Belcher to be sentenced, at which point I hope the victim can begin to move forward.”
Belcher will be sentenced in August for his crimes.
If you’ve been affected by rape or sexual assault, then local support is available from the Victim Advice Line. The Victim Advice Line is a free and confidential service offering advice, practical help and emotional support to people affected by crime, regardless how long ago it happened or whether it has been reported to the police. Support is available by telephone on 0800 9523000, via email at info@victimadviceline.org.uk and through live chat on victimadviceline.org.uk.
