A 12-year-old girl bravely recounted how two brothers, aware of their HIV status, raped her, resulting in her pregnancy. Patrick Leonard, 23, and Lannee Ksigwa, 19, were convicted of sexually assaulting the child for their own pleasure by a jury at Bradford Crown Court. The victim, whose identity remains protected, shared the traumatic details of the abuse during the court proceedings.
In a poignant victim impact statement played in court by prosecutor Chloe Hudson, the girl expressed the profound impact of the brothers’ actions on her innocence and chastised them for their behavior. Leonard admitted to knowingly exposing her to HIV through the rape, although the girl did not contract the virus.
Subsequently, the court learned that the girl gave birth to a child, genetically confirmed to be Leonard’s, following DNA testing. The brothers, deemed guilty by the jury, appeared separately via video links for their sentencing hearing.
Judge Andrew Hatton highlighted Leonard’s grooming tactics and highlighted the extreme recklessness of his actions, particularly in light of his HIV status. Leonard, who had confessed to two rape charges prior to trial, was convicted of additional rape offenses, while Ksigwa was found guilty of two rape charges.
Leonard received a 24-year sentence with an additional year on license, whereas Ksigwa was sentenced to 12 years’ detention in a young offender institution. They must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences, register as sex offenders for life, and are prohibited from contacting the victim and other involved parties. Leonard’s potential release after 16 years is subject to Parole Board assessment.
Detective Inspector Simon Howroyd of Bradford District’s Child Safeguarding Unit condemned the brothers as dangerous sexual predators who severely impacted the girl’s life for their gratification. He commended the victim’s courage in navigating the legal process and expressed hope that the sentences deliver some semblance of justice. West Yorkshire Police prioritize sexual offense reports and assure victims of sensitive treatment upon reporting.