Stalker jailed for hellish campaign after a family evicted him from their land

A who made life hell for a family for years when evicted from their private land - after repeatedly refusing to leave - has finally been . Leo Deen, 61, was living on a piece of land belonging to the family for several years but repeatedly refused to leave, forcing the courts in 2023 to issue him with an eviction notice.

But Chester Crown Court heard he launched a "malicious" against the family and authorities on social media, falsely accusing them of corruption and expressing his desire for "justice". A judge heard Deen also "harassed the victims" by repeatedly delivering letters to their home addresses and carried out several rooftop protests - on the roofs of local shops - against his eviction.

The convicted sex pervert even erected banners outside of the victim's home addresses and throughout the local area, some of which contained the family's personal details.

Now Deen has been jailed for four years, comprising 20 months after admitting stalking and causing a public nuisance -and 28 months for child sex offences after sexually interacting with a woman posing as a 15 year-old on social media.

Deen, of HMP Altcourse, was also handed indefinite restraining orders and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

After the stalking case, investigating officer Det Con Ashcroft, of Cheshire 's Harm Reduction Unit, said: "I am pleased the courts have recognised the severity of Deen's actions.

"It has been a long road for the victims in this case; they have been subjected to years of torment and have been courageous and dignified throughout.

"I hope that these convictions and sentence bring the family some closure and that they are able to move forwards with a more peaceful life away from Deen's influence within it.

"Throughout these events Deen has frequently presented himself as the victim of fraud and corruption; he tried to vilify the victims and present himself as wronged. This is in stark contrast to the reality.

"The evidence has shown Deen has used every means at his disposal to continually harass and intimidate his victims after they lawfully evicted him from their land to which he'd been refusing to leave.

"Deen's actions crossed the line from lawful protest, to stalking, not only impacting the victims he was targeting, but also his local community. He has now been held accountable for those actions."

The court heard as Deen started to erect signs locally, he accused the local council and the victims of fraud and directing members of the public to his social media accounts where he continued his campaign against the family.

The court were told that after Deen left the land, the victims used haybales to restrict unauthorised accessed.

On 17th October 2023 the family were informed that these haybales had been set alight, with videos of them burning posted on Deen's social media.

On 25th October 2023, Deen climbed on top of a building containing offices of the local council, erecting further banners.

The court heard how Deen remained camped above the council offices overnight leading to the building being closed over safety concerns, and council operations needing to be moved to other sites.

Deen was arrested after descending from the roofed area.

On 29th November 2023, Cheshire Police obtained a Stalking Protection Order protecting the victims and prohibiting Deen from publishing or displaying anything identifying them.

The court heard how Deen breached this order in December 2023 when he published the contents of the related court paperwork on his social media which identified the victims.

Detective Sergeant Nichola McClellan added: "Leo Deen is a resentful stalker who believed he was the victim of a conspiracy between his victims, police and the local authority.

"Nothing could be further from the truth, and Deen's choices ruined the lives of several members of a family which caused misery for the same local community he professes to care about.

"Leo Deen's behaviour - which lasted for years - was shrewd and unscrupulous. He will now have considerable time to contemplate the choices he made."

And senior officer Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox said: "This sentence demonstrates the commitment that Cheshire Police and the Harm Reduction Unit Investigations team have in bringing offenders to justice who commit stalking offences leaving no stone unturned in their work.

"The strength shown by the victims in this case is rightly recognised and I hope this shows that we will take all reports of stalking seriously and encourage victims to report their concerns to us even if they may not be sure it is stalking."

In the child sex offences matters the court heard how on 29th October 2023, a woman set up a Facebook profile posing as a 15-year-old girl.

She interacted with Deen's profile and they struck up a conversation, making it clear she was 15, but he asked her about sex and tried to video call her a number of times. She reported the incident to police on 7th November.

A short time later she received more messages and another call in which Deen was lying on a bed and appeared to be performing a sexual act. Deen was arrested on 8th November.

DC Brett Oliver said: "Deen was told the Facebook user was 15 and he turned the conversation to a sexual nature.

"He even video called her several times, and the one time she did answer he was committing a sexual act, with the knowledge she was 15. He even told her to be a good girl at school.

"He certainly should not be trying to engage in sexual behaviour with a child. There is no excuse and that is why he is now facing the consequences of this dangerous predatory behaviour."