Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

Court hands down life sentence to paedophile accomplices (4 December 2013)

Date: 04/12/2013
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Court hands down life sentence to paedophile accomplices

Sheffield Crown Court has jailed two men who were prolific paedophiles, including one man who was HIV positive and did not tell his family or victims.

Anthony Marsh, 53 – a salesman from Sheffield who is HIV positive – and Lee Davis, 39, and unemployed from Conisborough pleaded guilty to grooming young boys online by engaging them in chat rooms and then arranging to meet them with a view to sexual activity.

The pair targeted teenage boys living in the north of England through social media sites, including Facebook and Bebo. They also used Skype to chat to the boys, as well as trawling gay chat rooms for young victims. Among a raft of sexual offences, Lee Davis pleaded guilty to raping a vulnerable 13-year-old boy in his home.

The court heard that the two men led a double life, masquerading as family men while continuing to prey on teenage boys online over a nine-year period.

The two men did not know each other, however, until they started to work together seeking out and grooming teenage boys online. They used false names – Marsh took the pseudonyms Tony Smith and Tony Taylor – while Davis used the name James Parkin.

Marsh engaged in sexual activity with children as young as three but was caught in a hotel in Scarborough in 2012, when he was seen with a collection of indecent images of children, as well as images depicting sadism. Both men had boasted online that they wanted their victims to be as young and naïve as possible. Most of the victims were aged13-17.

Davis kept a store of DVDs recording his own sexual offences against children, which he stored behind a panel in his cellar. When he heard that his accomplice Marsh had been arrested, he deleted as many of his computer records as possible, but investigating officers still deciphered 45,000 text messages on his mobile phone.

Victims of the two men, as well as their families, are receiving counselling.
South Yorkshire Police are appealing for any further victims of the men to come forward.

Child Abuse Law

Duncan Lewis is one of the UK’s leading family and children’s solicitors and can offer legal advice on any aspect of family and childcare law, including child abuse.

Duncan Lewis also offers representation to those facing allegations or charges of child abuse.

Contact Duncan Lewis solicitors on 020 7923 4020 for expert advice on family and childcare law.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.