‘Reginald Perrin’ faker guilty in sex case

Leslie Andrews, 54, engineered the Reginald Perrin-style disappearance in 2002 to evade a police investigation into his paedophile activities.

He severed all contact with his wife and family and managed to keep a low profile for eight years as he changed his name to Christopher Trent and refused to visit a doctor or dentist, or use his National Insurance number.

It is understood he moved around on a regular basis taking cash-in-hand jobs and lived at regular addresses including caravan parks throughout Yorkshire, Humberside and Greater Manchester.

He was finally traced last May in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, when he was arrested on suspicion of theft and his true identity was flagged up by his previous history of petty offending.

Andrews had originally fled after two police officers knocked on the front door of his flat in St Heliers Road in Blackpool in 2002 over sexual allegations made by a young girl. They told him he would have to be questioned in the near future but instead, few days later, he drove the short distance out to Lytham St Annes where he parked his red Ford Escort in Clifton Drive North near Pontin’s holiday centre.

The 6ft 6in Andrews then headed across to the beach and towards the Irish Sea where he left his personal items and then disappeared – just like the TV character Perrin, played by Leonard Rossiter.

A jury at Preston Crown Court yesterday found him guilty of 14 counts of indecent assault committed on a young girl between May 1997 and May 2002. He was cleared of one further similar charge.

Andrews had denied all the offences at his trial this month.

His barrister Robin Kitching told the court his client wanted to be sentenced immediately but Judge Norman Wright was not prepared to do so.

Sentencing was adjourned until June 28 and Andrews, who has been in custody for 12 months, was further remanded.