September 2023

Paedophile given 23 year sentence after sexually abusing two children and raping a woman

A paedophile who sexually assaulted two children and raped a woman while on Crown Court bail has been given a sentence totalling 23 years.

Michael Levy, 39, sexually assaulted his first victim, who was just nine years old at the time, on a number of occasions. Levy then bombarded her with WhatsApp messages telling her he loved her.

Levy sexually assaulted his second victim, who was 13-year-old at the time, on a number of occasions, including when she was in her school uniform.

Having been interviewed and charged in relation to those offences, Levy was given Crown Court bail on December 16, 2022, while awaiting trial. This included conditions not to enter Blackburn.

In November 2022, Levy began messaging his third victim – a woman he met nearly a decade earlier – out of the blue. He bombarded her with messages until she agreed to meet him for a coffee in Blackburn in early January, something he was barred from doing by his bail conditions.

Levy continued to bombard his victim with messages asking to meet up again, turning up at her house uninvited and other locations he knew she was at – breaching his bail conditions with the unwanted visits.

After being bombarded with messages about meeting up, and feeling pressured, the victim agreed to Levy coming over to her house while her friend was there. During the time Levy was there, the victim was messaging her friend stating how increasingly uncomfortable he was making her feel.

After the victim’s friend had left, Levy began forcefully kissing and biting her. He then sexually assaulted and raped her. Levy was smirking at the victim throughout.

Levy, of no fixed address but formerly of Woodfield, Bamber Bridge, was found guilty of 13 sexual offences against children under 13 years following a trial at Preston Crown Court in March. Those offences occurred between 2019 and 2021.

Following a separate trial in July, Levy was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent in relation to his adult victim.

Yesterday, (September 4) at Preston Crown Court, Levy was sentenced to 18 years immediate custody, with a further five years extended licence after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

He was also made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.