A young man named Lewis Gleave has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of disturbing incidents involving sexual and physical assaults on multiple victims. Gleave, 21, engaged in inappropriate behavior towards several women, including making sexual comments, physical assaults, and threatening one victim with a gun. Despite being under investigation for serious offenses, he continued his violent spree, prompting authorities to label him as a danger to society.
One incident in August 2024 saw Gleave making sexualized comments towards a girl in public, followed by physical assaults on her and a man who tried to intervene. Just days later, he targeted the same girl again in a park, assaulting her and the same man. Gleave’s behavior escalated further when he engaged in sexual communication with a 13-year-old girl via social media in September, which was reported to the authorities.
In a particularly alarming incident on September 27, captured on CCTV, Gleave confronted a 27-year-old individual while carrying what appeared to be a gun. He later assaulted two women at a supported accommodation center before being apprehended by the police. Despite initially denying his actions, Gleave eventually pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including assault, sexual assault, and possession of an imitation firearm.
At his sentencing at Chester Crown Court, Gleave was handed a four-year prison term along with additional time on license, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restraining orders, and registration on the Sex Offenders Register. Detective Constable Lydia Thompson, from Cheshire Constabulary, described Gleave as a dangerous offender who targeted vulnerable individuals during his crime spree, expressing relief that justice was served for the victims and emphasizing ongoing monitoring to prevent any further harm.
DC Thompson commended the bravery of the victims for coming forward and highlighted the importance of their disclosures in securing Gleave’s conviction. She reassured the victims that specialist officers would continue to monitor Gleave closely to ensure their safety and well-being.