A 21-year-old named Lewis Gleave, described as a “prolific” and “dangerous” sex offender, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of crimes targeting vulnerable individuals. Gleave engaged in sexual and physical assaults, including threatening a woman with a gun and communicating inappropriately with a child online. These incidents occurred over a span of three months, while he was already under investigation for other serious offenses.
The first incident took place in August 2024 when Gleave made lewd comments to a girl in public, attempted to hug her without consent, and physically assaulted a man who intervened. Just five days later, he targeted the same girl in a park, assaulting her again and attacking the man accompanying her. Gleave’s behavior escalated despite being arrested after the first incident.
On September 1, Gleave engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a 13-year-old girl via social media platforms. The following month, he approached a 27-year-old individual, brandishing what appeared to be a gun, demanding information about a friend. The weapon turned out to be a BB gun.
Three days later, Gleave assaulted two women at a supported accommodation center, dragging one across the room and strangling the other. He was apprehended when one of the victims’ boyfriends arrived at the scene.
Initially denying the charges, Gleave eventually pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including assault, sexual assault, possession of an imitation firearm, and causing bodily harm. He has been sentenced to four years in prison, with an additional three years on license, along with various restraining orders and registration as a sex offender.
Detective Constable Lydia Thompson, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, labeled Gleave as a risk to society for his relentless targeting of vulnerable individuals. She commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward and emphasized ongoing monitoring to prevent further harm.