A MAN faked his death to escape being caught for child sex crimes and lived a secret life in an East Riding resort for almost six years.
The Mail can reveal Leslie Andrews, who was this week convicted of abusing a young girl, had been living in Hornsea and going by the name of Christopher Trent.
Andrews faked his suicide in Blackpool back in 2002 after being accused of the offences.
He left his keys and a suicide note in his car and ditched personal belongings such as his passport and bank cards.
Leaving his wife and family he went on the run, turning up in Hornsea a year later.
But instead of keeping a low profile, Andrews got involved in a number of business ventures and became known in the town as a womaniser.
He even opened a steak and fish restaurant called Charlestons with one of his girlfriends, before suddenly disappearing.
Andrews was eventually caught when he was arrested for stealing cash from an employer in Wakefield last May.
Police realised who he really was and Andrews has now been convicted of child sex crimes.
The news has stunned Hornsea residents who knew him for so long as Christopher Trent.
Mike Gardner, from the Hornsea Pub Watch scheme, came into contact with Andrews in 2003.
When Andrews left suddenly in 2009 he owed Mr Gardner more than �9,000, having taken on the franchise to run the Tow Bar Inn, at Skirlington Caravan Park.
Mr Gardner said: "I was gutted when he left owing me all that money.
"He was a larger than life character and a bit of a womaniser. It was unbelievable to find out what he had done though.
"He opened up a restaurant called Charlestons in Newbegin, which he ran with his girlfriend from the area.
"He fooled her too."
Andrews' best friend from his time in Hornsea, Terry Mullins, said he was "disgusted" after discovering the truth about his former drinking partner.
Mr Mullins, 44, said: "I always knew there was something not quite right but I thought it was tax evasion."
Earlier this week, Andrews was convicted of 14 offences of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 14.
A jury sitting at Preston Crown court found him guilty of the offences, which took place between 1997 and 2002.
Mr Gardner said: "The general response from residents in the town is that he deserves everything he gets.
"It is disgusting what he has done."
The court was told that after making a swift exit from Hornsea, Andrews moved to West Yorkshire.
Following his arrest by Wakefield Police for stealing �2,000, his true identity became apparent. Andrews claimed he faked his death and left Blackpool because he was being chased by debt collectors.
Inspector Tony Baxter, head of the public protection unit at Blackpool Police, said: "Andrews made a determined effort to make people believe he was dead.
"However, since his disappearance in 2002, we have never stopped looking for him.
"Andrews has never been declared dead in any official capacity.
"For several years after his disappearance he was considered vulnerable due to the circumstances of his disappearance and Lancashire Police ran a protracted missing from home enquiry.
"After this failed to locate him he was circulated as wanted and his case was reviewed regularly until his arrest last year."
Mr Baxter said Andrews did everything possible to hide his true identity and evade capture.
He said: "He never went to the doctor, dentist, or paid taxes in his real name. He adopted the name of Christopher Trent and lived in Yorkshire, where, for almost eight years, he had never been arrested or come to the attention of the authorities for any reason."
Andrews is remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 28.
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