Irthlingborough man jailed for eight years for non-recent child sex abuse

A man convicted of the non-recent sexual abuse of two girls has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Kevin Gleeson, aged 67, was reported to Northamptonshire Police in August 2020 by his now-adult victims, who revealed he had abused them when they were children.

Officers from the Force’s Protecting Vulnerable People department began an investigation which uncovered how Gleeson had repeatedly assaulted one of the girls and then the other during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

As a result Gleeson was charged with 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, and one count of gross indecency with a girl under 14, all of which he denied.

Following a trial at Northampton Crown Court last November, Gleeson was found guilty by the jury on all 12 counts and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

On February 29, he appeared before the same court and was told he would serve a total of eight years in prison.

Gleeson, of Straws Close, Irthlingborough, was also made subject the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Abigail Kennedy said: “Kevin Gleeson’s repeated abuse of two young children was abhorrent, and I am very glad that he has received a significant prison sentence which reflects the severity of his offending.

“The passage of time may have left Gleeson feeling he had got away with what he did, but thanks to the courage of the two survivors who came forward to report him he has now been proven in court to be both a dangerous sexual predator and a liar.

“Their support throughout our investigation and the court process has been key to securing Gleeson’s conviction and I very much hope both the guilty verdicts and sentence help them to continue to heal.

“If you have been subjected to any form of sexual abuse, whether recent or non-recent, please don’t suffer alone. What has happened is not your fault.

“Tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual abuse, is a priority for Northamptonshire Police. When you are ready to report what has happened, we will believe you, support you and do all we can to secure justice for you."

*This report and custody image have been released with the support of the victim survivors, who have lifelong anonymity.*

Help and support

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse or assault, whether recent or non-recent, please come forward by calling 101 or online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. We will believe you.

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual abuse, but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/serenity or call Serenity on 01604 601713.

Serenity provides free, confidential 24/7 support.

You can also visit www.voicenorthants.org  or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.

Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.