The would be 'Red Ribbon Killer'
In 2018, police carried out a search of Harry Leigh's home whilst investigating the rape of a fifteen year old schoolgirl. A girl known by Leigh revealed that he had sent a message stating he wanted to be a serial killer, together with tweets about wanting to kill people. The search revealed a 'murder manual', plastic sheeting, maps and an assortment of knives. Following his arrest many other victims also came forward claiming to have been assaulted by him.
At the trial held at Hove Crown Court, the then nineteen year old pled guilty to five counts of inciting four different girls aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity, eight counts of causing seven girls between 12 and 15 to watch a sexual act and three counts of making indecent images of children in January of that year including several 'Category A' images.
Leigh wished to become famous - the "Red Ribbon Killer of Hastings" - he planned to leave a red ribbon with his victims, having made detailed plans about the murders in his manual. A psychiatric report showed him to have psychiatric traits, with his offending commencing at the age of thirteen.
Heather Stangoe, prosecuting, said: "He is a persistent sexual offender whose crimes have become increasingly grave as he has grown up."
She said the rape included violence, adding: "There was choking around her neck. The victim’s mother spotted a bite mark on her shoulder and went straight to the police."
Judge David Rennie told Leigh that psychiatric assessments showed he had psychopathic traits.
He said: “During their investigations police found a folder relation to a character called the Red Ribbon Killer.
“There were photos of you in that persona, there were studies of serial killers around the world, expressions of hatred against certain individuals, taunts to the police for not catching the killer before he commits his offences, a detailed map of the hunting ground where either killer was to operate, and a list of some 30 intended victims.”
He added: "You have caused untold harm."
Leigh was sentenced to eight years in jail with an extended prison release licence of six years for the rape of the schoolgirl.
