A paedophile who wanted to travel to countries with lower ages of consent has been banned from leaving the UK.

Jason Leonard, 37, told police that ‘if a child is old enough to talk it’s old enough to have sex’ during interviews about his crimes.

He was handed a sexual harm prevention order, banning him from leaving the UK without the consent of the chief constable.

Leonard told a detective that he thinks eventually paedophilia will be accepted in the same way that homosexuality is today (Picture: MEN Media)

However, Leonard, described as one of the most dangerous registered sex offenders in Lancashire, appealed against that decision.


A detective revealed that Leonard had said his ideal partner would be aged between 12 and 14 and the only reason he was not acting on his desires was because of his elderly mother.

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He previously said that paedophiles are being persecuted and treated like gay people ’40 years ago and Jews in the second world war’.



He said he wanted to go abroad to avoid this persecution – his appeal was rejected.

Leonard was jailed in 2013 for downloading pictures of children then sharing them online.

Jason Leonard told cops he wants to move to another country where the age of consent is lower so he can form a sexual relationship with a child (Picture: MEN Media)

An initial order was deemed insufficient until a condition was added that he must have permission from a child’s parents or guardian if he wants to speak to children.

He said it was ‘completely disproportionate’, but police disagreed.

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DC Andrew Ashworth said: ‘In the 10 years performing this role I have never met a sexual offender who quite openly acknowledges his paedophilic tendencies […].

‘Mr Leonard has expressed his desire to leave the country because he believes the police, judiciary and government in this country are persecuting paedophiles. He is very vocal and adamant about this persecution.

‘He believes that in the fullness of time paedophilia will be accepted in the same way that homosexuality is today.’

Leonard (pictured outside court) was jailed for 32 months in 2013 after downloading 251 indecent images of children and then sharing them online (Picture: MEN Media)

He added added: ‘[Leonard] has accepted that his mother, who he has a close connection with, is a factor in holding him back as to his sexual lifestyle.

‘He has indicated that when she dies, and she is an elderly woman in her 80s, he will go abroad to seek children. For me the only pro-social influence in his life at the moment is his mother and that’s purely because she is alive.’

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Stuart Kaufman, representing Leonard, said the new SHPO restrictions were ‘completely disproportionate’.

He told the court: ‘Mr Leonard said he would always abide by the laws of whichever country he goes to.If the age of consent is say 15 in Thailand then he would abide by that law.

‘He is the Ronseal of paedophiles. He does exactly as he says on the tin. There’s nothing on Mr Leonard’s record to suggest he has [had sexual activity] with a child.

‘The only thing he has ever done is downloaded child pornography.

‘There has been no changes in Mr Leonard’s conduct since the SOPO was made in 2013. The court could have made a SHPO then but they didn’t.

‘If his mother dies it may change but at the moment it is completely disproportionate.’

Judge Sara Dodd dismissed Leonard’s appeal and said he was ‘deeply disturbed’ with a ‘frankly alarming attitude to paedophilia’.

Speaking after the hearing, DC Ashworth said: ‘I’m pleased with the result. Lancashire Police will continue to manage the risk of any registered sex offender and this was an exceptional and unique case.’

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