Purfleet sex predator jailed for assaults in East London

FOR 25 YEARS, James Lee has been carrying out sexual assaults on two female victims. The attacks took place in various East London locations. Now the 67 year old is beginning a 20 year prison term.

The sentence was handed down on 14th August, when James Lee – also known as Tony Lee – appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Lee, of Joslin Road, Purfleet, had pleaded guilty to 28 offences covering a range of sexual crimes committed in, police estimate, over 200 instances of assault.

Lee began his attacks in approximately 1975, when the two victims were under 16 years of age, and he continued abusing them until 2000. One of the victims reported him in February 2018. Police investigations then discovered there had been a second victim, and specialist police officers supported her as she too recalled how Lee had abused her.

Lee was quickly arrested. Police found a safe in his home which contained video tapes on which some of the instances of abuse had been filmed. He was charged shortly afterwards and pleaded guilty to the charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 1st June, before returning to the Court this month for sentencing.

Are there more victims?
Acting Detective Inspector Jason Keen of the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command said, “Lee is a predatory and self-serving individual, who subjected his victims to systematic abuse over a number of years, inflicting untold trauma and misery. It’s difficult to imagine the cumulative impact of such prolonged abuse, and I am just grateful the victims were able to find the courage to detail their experience to officers. I’m pleased that their bravery, combined with the hard work and determination of officers has paid off with this sentence.

“We believe there may well be other victims of Lee, and would encourage anyone who wants to report information to contact us. All allegations will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and in confidence.”

•Anyone with information is asked to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command on 020-7825 2500 or the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 (adults) or 0800 1111 (children). Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111, where you can give information anonymously.

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