He lived across the street and had become a trusted family friend. She didn't know, until her sons told her, exactly what he had done to them.
A Trusted Neighbor
Sarah Sands and her family moved to Silvertown, east London, months before the events that would change all of their lives. She became friendly with a neighbor, 77-year-old Michael Pleasted, an elderly man who lived alone and was a well-known figure in the community, giving her eldest son, Bradley, a part-time job helping him with newspapers.
The Abuse
Pleasted gradually built trust with Sands' three sons, inviting them to his home individually. Her twin sons disclosed to her that he had sexually assaulted them, and her eldest son, Bradley, disclosed the same about a week later. Pleasted was arrested and charged with offenses against the boys but was granted bail and permitted to return to the estate while awaiting trial.
The Killing
On an autumn night in 2014, Sands went to Pleasted's flat, saying later she intended to ask him to plead guilty and spare her sons the ordeal of a trial. She has said he denied the allegations and called her children liars. In the confrontation that followed, she fatally stabbed him. She turned herself in to police that night with the knife and her blood-stained clothing.
Trial and Sentencing
Sands was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, on the basis that she had lost control rather than intended to kill. She was initially sentenced to three and a half years, later increased to seven and a half years on appeal, with judges noting she had not sought emergency help after the attack. She served nearly four years in prison.
The Aftermath
During Sands' imprisonment, her five sons lived with their grandmother. It later emerged during the case that Pleasted had legally changed his name years earlier and had 24 prior convictions for sexual offenses against children spanning three decades — a history unknown to the local council that had housed him. Sands has since become an advocate for tighter restrictions on convicted sex offenders changing their legal names, an issue also raised by UK lawmakers. She was released from prison in 2018, and her sons, now adults, have said they have worked to rebuild their relationship with her since.
FAQ
What was Sarah Sands convicted of?
Manslaughter, rather than murder, on the basis that the court found she had lost control rather than planned to kill.
What sentence did she receive?
An initial sentence of three and a half years, later increased to seven and a half years on appeal; she served nearly four years.
Did Michael Pleasted have a prior criminal history?
Yes. He had 24 previous convictions for sexual offenses against children under a different legal name, unknown to local authorities at the time.