Birmingham pilot jailed after rape of young girl

Tevin McLeod was arrested after landing on an inbound flight at Manchester Airport on Saturday, September 7 and charged the next day with the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, which happened between 2015 and 2016.

Although the 28-year-old initially denied the offences, Birmingham Crown Court heard how McLeod had sent a number of messages acknowledging the abuse in an effort to prevent the child from reporting it.

He spoke about his reputation being tarnished if people found out and told the girl he would lose his career as a pilot and go to jail because she was 'underage'.

McLeod, of no fixed address, later admitted his guilt and was sentenced on Friday to seven and a half years in prison and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on his release.

Detective Constable Stewart Garratt, from the force’s Birmingham Child Abuse Public Protection Team, said: "For a child to speak out and report sexual abuse is a huge deal for them and I commend the bravery of this young girl for confiding in someone.

"It’s for these sorts of crimes involving children that we have a dedicated specialist department with officers specially trained to help young people through the judicial process. I’ve no doubt that the voice of this child has stopped other children being targeted."

For more information on what do if you know of a child who may have been abused visit: west-midlands.police.uk/your-options/child-sexual-abuse