A man who raped and began sexually abusing a teenage boy in 2015 has been jailed. Mark Watson was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 9 July). The 55-year-old’s offending was brought to the attention of police in 2021 when the victim, who is now an adult, told a third-party what had happened between 2015 and 2018. He told officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) that Watson had raped him on several occasions and forced

People struggling with substance misuse who come into police custody will receive expert help to recover from addiction and turn their backs on crime thanks to a step up in drug testing. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is increasing funding for the area’s Drug Testing on Arrest (DToA) service to boost testing capacity to divert more vulnerable people into treatment. The PCC is investing £200k in the service over the next two

A second man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man in Loughborough. The body of a man was found on the evening on Monday 6 July in a caravan parked in a layby on the A6 Derby Road, Loughborough. East Midlands Ambulance Service attended, and the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Subsequent enquiries found that the deceased man – who was in his 40s – reported being involved in an altercation in the days leading up to being found. As a result, a murder

A man has been charged after a number of offences of robbery and theft in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Jack Moore, 33, of Montvale Gardens, Leicester has been charged with: One count of theft from person relating to a theft in Sweetbriar Road, Leicester on 31 May 2026 One count of theft from store relating to a store theft in Exploration Drive, Leicester on 22 June 2026 One count of robbery relating to a business in Granby Street, Leicester on 26 June 2026 One count of

Officers are appealing for witnesses after a driver involved in a serious collision in Thrussington passed away. Officers were called to Ratcliffe Road on Friday 26 June after a report of a collision around 10.48pm involving a black Renault Laguna and a red Massey Ferguson tractor which was pulling a trailer. The driver of the car and a passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Two further passengers in the car sustained minor injuries. On Friday (3 July) the fo

A murder investigation is under way after a man's body was found in a caravan in a lay-by in Loughborough. Leicestershire Police have released the following statement. A murder investigation has commenced following the discovery of a man's body in a caravan located in a lay-by in Loughborough. Enquires are being carried out following the death, which was initially reported to police on Monday (6 July) at around 11.40pm. East Midlands Ambulance Service attended and was pronoun

Yesterday (Tuesday 7 July) officers arrested a man suspected to be involved in a courier fraud offence. Courier fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts victims by telephone claiming to be a police officer or bank official. The caller sounds plausible and may confirm the victim’s name and address, basic information which could be obtained easily. In September last year an elderly woman was contacted by someone claiming to be a bank official who said he was investigating fraudul

The family of a man who died following a collision in Shepshed have paid tribute to a ‘devoted husband’ and ‘amazing father’. Police were called to Charley Road just after 8.45am on Sunday (5 July) following a report of a single-vehicle collision involving a red Yamaha MT07 motorcycle. Officers attended with colleagues from the East Midlands Ambulance Service but the rider, Douglas Burton, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. In a statement, Mr Burton’s family said: “At 84

Responding to the report published today (6 July) from the Police Leadership Commission, Rupert Matthews, Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "The report's call for a fundamental overhaul of police leadership is right, but it is far from a new observation. For years, I have argued for a return to the Peelian principles and for stronger, more accountable leadership. "I welcome the focus on developing future leaders and believe we shou