Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons

Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons


In 2014, Sarah Sands took justice into her own hands in a criminal case that shook the UK. 

Fueled by anguish and desperation, the mother of three fatally stabbed Michael Pleasted, a 77-year-old convicted pedophile, who had allegedly abused her sons.

This true crime case raised important questions about the gaps in how sex offenders are monitored in the UK.

Let's get into it.


Background of the Case

In early 2014, Sarah Sands and her sons moved to their new home in Silvertown, a close-knit community in east London. 

The single mother was working to build a better life for her children, including her eldest son Bradley, then 12, and twin boys Alfie and Reece, who were 11 at the time.

Living across the street was 77-year-old Michael Pleasted, a seemingly respectable elderly resident who had become a familiar figure in the community. 

Pleasted, who worked as a local newsagent, carefully positioned himself as a trustworthy figure in the neighborhood.

He even created opportunities for local children to work with him through Saturday jobs where they helped him sort newspapers at the shop.

This position gave him legitimate access to young people while building trust with their parents.

Sarah Sands, like many in the community, was completely unaware of Pleasted's true nature. 

She developed what she believed to be a neighborly friendship with him, often cooking meals for him and spending time in his company. 

"I thought he was a lovely old man," she would later recall to investigators. 

"I cooked for him, looked after him, always kept him company when I had the time."

The relationship deepened when Pleasted expressed interest in having Bradley help at the newsagents. 

What appeared to be a kind offer from an elderly neighbor was, in reality, the beginning of a calculated grooming process that would eventually extend to the twins.

Gradually he started inviting Bradley and his twin brothers to his flat.

Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons
Sarah Sands


The Assault and The Investigation 

After Bradley worked with Pleasted for a while, he told his mother that he wanted to stop working for him but did not give her any valid reasons. 

However, her twin sons, Alfie and Reece, then 11, later disclosed that Michael Pleasted had sexually assaulted them in his flat. 

A week later, her eldest son Bradley, 12, revealed he had also been sexually assaulted. 

This news shattered Sandra Sands's World.

She immediately contacted the local police department and filed a report on the case.

According to Sandra Sands, the criminal justice system's handling of the case was particularly distressing for the family. 

After Pleasted's arrest and charging, the judge made a controversial decision to grant him bail, allowing him to return to the same estate where Sandra Sands lived.

As a result, Sands became increasingly worried knowing her children's alleged abuser was living freely just across the street.

This forced Sarah Sands and her children to relocate to her mother's small home for their safety.

Court records show that during this period, Pleasted maintained his innocence and claimed the children were lying, which further escalated tensions. 

Tragically, the bail decision set the stage for the next series of events that unfolded.

Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons
Michael Pleasted


The Crime

The investigating officers were building their case, but the wheels of justice moved slowly for Sandra Sands.

This left her family in a state of limbo as they awaited trial, Sandra told BBC News

Also, the prospect of her sons having to testify in court and relive those horrible moments added another layer of trauma to the family's ordeal.

On November 28, 2014, Sarah Sands decided to take matters into her own hands after having some bottles of wine.

CCTV cameras captured her walking into Michael Pleasted's flat in East London, carrying a knife and wearing a hooded top.

According to Sands, she entered Pleasted's flat intending to convince him to plead guilty to spare her sons from testifying. 

He maintained his innocence saying that her children were lying and soon a struggle began between the two of them.

In the struggle that followed, Sands stabbed Pleasted eight times. 

The 77-year-old bled to death in his flat. 

Hours later, she walked into the police station, still carrying the bloody knife and wearing blood-stained clothes. 

She immediately admitted to the stabbing but maintained she never intended to kill him.

"I didn't know what I was doing there," she later explained. "I realized I had made a huge mistake."

Sarah Sands was immediately taken into custody and charged with the murder of Pleasted.

Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons
Sarah Sands leaving Michael Pleasted's apartment after the murder


Sarah Sands Trial and Sentencing

In 2015, Sarah Sands stood trial at the Old Bailey for murder. 

Her defense attorneys argued she had lost control after Pleasted's denial of the alleged abuse. 

However, the prosecution painted a different picture, suggesting the attack was premeditated given she arrived armed with a knife.

The trial took an unexpected turn when Pleasted's true identity emerged. 

The court heard that the man known to the community as Michael Pleasted was actually Robin Moult.

He was a convicted pedophile with 24 previous convictions for sexual offenses spanning three decades. 

He had legally changed his name and relocated to the estate, where neither residents nor the local council knew of his criminal history.

After a lengthy trial, the jury rejected the murder charge.

However, they found Sarah Sands guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control. 

The judge initially sentenced her to three and a half years, noting he didn't believe she had "rationally thought through what taking a knife might lead to."

However, the Attorney General appealed the sentence as unduly lenient. 

The Court of Appeal agreed, and Sands's sentence was doubled to seven and a half years. 

The appeal judges criticized her failure to call emergency services or attempt to help Pleasted after the stabbing.

"I had taken the law into my own hands," Sands later acknowledged. 

She served four years before being released in 2018.

Sarah Sands: She killed her Pedophile Neighbour who allegedly molested her sons
Sarah Sands and her sons during an interview


Aftermath of The Crime

Sandra Sands' case exposed a critical loophole in the UK's sex offender monitoring system.

It revealed how convicted offenders could effectively hide their past by legally changing their names to obtain new documents and pass DBS checks. 

This revelation sparked campaigns for stricter controls on sex offenders' ability to alter their identities.

Labour MP Sarah Champion took up the cause. 

She proposed marking offenders' official documents at sentencing to prevent such deception.

Today, Sandra Sand's family has largely reconciled with their past. 

"There is nothing that is going to break the family bond," Bradley told BBC.

The brothers now advocate for abuse survivors to speak out, despite their earlier regrets about disclosure. 

As Reece puts it, "It's going to be hard, but it does get better."


Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately. 

You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.




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