By Breaking Belize News Staff: In a swift conclusion to a case of home invasion and rape, Justice Pilgrim on Thursday sentenced Leon Lamb to 21 years, 1 month, and 26 days in prison for the 2022 rape of a 30-year-old woman.
The sentencing, handed down at 1:57 p.m., follows a trial that detailed a “predatory” attack occurring in broad daylight. The court heard how Lamb forced his way into the victim’s home on September 24, 2022, after pretending to be a police officer. Armed with a firearm, he subjected the woman to a brutal assault while her roommate was present in the house.
Justice Pilgrim established a starting point of 19 years for the sentence, but quickly increased it based on several “significant aggravating factors.” The court noted that Lamb did not just rape the victim but viciously beat and degraded her, calling her a “pig” during the assault.
The judge categorized the victim’s suffering as “Category 2 high harm,” citing a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) that described deep psychological trauma. The victim testified that she felt “dirty, unclean, and ashamed,” and has struggled to speak to others or leave her home since the attack.
Furthermore, the judge highlighted Lamb’s criminal history. Lamb had been convicted of another sexual offense just three months prior to the September 2022 attack. Justice Pilgrim remarked that this closeness in timing painted a picture of a “predatory offender,” prompting a three-year uplift in the sentence.
During the trial, Lamb offered a sworn defense, claiming he had been at a birthday party, became intoxicated, and could not remember his whereabouts during the hours of the crime. He denied ever owning a gun or knowing the victim’s home, claiming he was shot in the foot by police during a separate chase near his workplace.
While medical exams did not recover DNA evidence, the court relied heavily on the “detailed and plausible” testimony of the victim. Although the victim’s roommate—who witnessed the intruder dressed in a police-style jacket—did not identify Lamb in court, the judge found the victim’s credibility sufficient to secure the conviction.
The court reached the final sentence of 21 years, 1 month, and 26 days after the following adjustments:
- Total before mitigations: 25 years (reflecting the gravity of the assault and prior record).
- Mitigations: A 3-year reduction was granted for Lamb’s participation in rehabilitation courses while incarcerated and character witness testimonies.
- Remand Credit: A deduction of 10 months and 4 days for time already served at the Kolbe Foundation.
Justice Pilgrim refused to grant any reduction for remorse, noting that Lamb expressed none. As part of the judgment, the court issued special orders requiring Lamb to undergo mandatory psychiatric treatment and counseling. Additionally, upon any future release, Lamb is legally barred from changing his address without notifying the authorities.
The post Convicted rapist Leon Lamb sentenced to 21 years for brutal predatory rape; broke into woman’s home dressed as police, raped her and called her ‘pig’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: In a swift conclusion to a case of home invasion and rape, Justice Pilgrim on Thursday sentenced Leon Lamb to 21 years, 1 month, and 26 days in prison for the 2022 rape of a 30-year-old woman. The sentencing, handed down at 1:57 p.m., follows a trial that detailed a
The post Convicted rapist Leon Lamb sentenced to 21 years for brutal predatory rape; broke into woman’s home dressed as police, raped her and called her ‘pig’ appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
