Man arrested in connection with death of teenage girl in Rotherham

Detectives investigating the death of a teenage girl in Rotherham have arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The girl, who has been named online as 16-year-old Leonne Weeks, was found by a member of the public in Dinnington, on Monday morning.

Police launched a murder investigation and are questioning the man, from Dinnington, in connection with her death.

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A police spokesman said the man was arrested on Monday night after the teenager’s body was discovered just off Lordens Hill at around 10.55am.

Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Speaking at a news conference on Monday night, Temporary Superintendent Sarah Poolman said police were treating the death as suspicious because of “concerns around the state of the body and injuries”.

She said the force had received a report of a missing person 20 minutes before the body was found.

Ms Poolman said: “There was a report of a missing episode but only 20 minutes prior to the finding of the body so, yes, someone had been reported missing. However, we have not been able to formally identify the body and therefore I can’t give any details as to who the person is at this stage.”

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Leonne was described by her aunt today as a “quiet girl who wouldn’t hurt anybody”.

Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Jean Oldfield, 47, had tears rolling down her cheeks as she paid tribute to her “lovely” niece.

She said: “Our Leonne is not that type of person - I don’t know who would do this to her. Leonne was popular, but quiet and would mix about with anyone.

“She is a nice person and such a lovely lass - I don’t know how anyone could do this.”

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Ms Oldfield said Leonne had finished school at Dinnington Comprehensive and was doing a hair and beauty course at Dinnington College.

Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

She said the girl’s mother, Paula Oldfield, was “absolutely distraught” at the news of her daughter’s death.

Police are continuing to scour the scene as a large 600-metre-square police cordon still remains in place

Forensic teams used the assistance of a drone to scour the crime scene despite light fog patches this morning.

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Two members of the major forensic crime teams dressed in white suits were spotted photographing the narrow pathway where Leonne’s body was found.

Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Another black car pulled up alongside the forensic scene van and a man and a woman emerged from the vehicle changed into blue and white overalls.

Six police vehicles, including four patrol cars, CSI van and a larger major incident support were at the scene.

Around 40 bunches of flowers have now been left near a wall just metres from where Leonne’s body was found.

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On Leonne’s Facebook account, there were more than 100 tributes posted under her latest profile picture, which she last updated on December 28 with a Snapchat filter of a dog’s nose and ears over a selfie.

Kian Foster wrote: “Fly high angel.”

Bommer McLauchlan said: “Fly high cousin can’t believe you have gone miss you.”

Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyFloral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Floral tributes have been left after the body of teenageer Leonne Weeks was found on a pathway near Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Braden Oldfield added: “Sleep tight Leonne, Can’t believe u been taken away so early gone but never forgotten.”

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Whittaker said: “If you have any information about what happened, please come forward and pass that on to us.

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“We have increased patrols in Dinnington at this time to provide reassurance to members of the community and I’d urge anyone who thinks they have any information to please speak to an officer.

“While formal identification has not yet taken place, we are working closely with the family of a girl from Dinnington.

“We expect formal identification to take place over the coming days and I’d like to ask both members of the public and the media to please respect this family’s privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 256 of January 16.