Leanne’s life was shattered by the very person she thought she could trust most — her lawyer.

When she first sought help from James Bowie, she was terrified and vulnerable, facing criminal charges she didn’t understand and wasn't guilty of. Instead of protecting her, Bowie exploited her desperation. He demanded sex in exchange for legal services, sent her graphic messages and images, and tried to manipulate her with threats that her case would collapse if she spoke out.

In her own words:

“Here I was, already drowning, and the person who was supposed to be my life raft was pushing me further under”.

Leanne found the courage to say no. She reported Bowie to the Law Society and went public to protect other women. She was the first to speak out — but she was not the only victim. Dozens of women came forward with their own stories of harassment and abuse.

The court later described Bowie’s behaviour as a “staggering breach of trust” and recognized that his campaign to exploit Leanne for his own gratification caused her “significant mental and emotional distress."

But Bowie’s misconduct didn’t stop there. While suspended and facing Leanne’s civil lawsuit, he spiraled further. In a criminal trial, the court heard that Bowie tried to obtain a gun to kill Leanne. For over a year, Leanne lived in constant fear — unable to sleep, quitting her job where Bowie knew she worked, sending her son away for safety, and warning her neighbours that her life was in danger.

As she told the court:

“The damage is invisible, but it’s everywhere. It’s in how I breathe. How I walk. How I wake up and go to sleep every day with the same fear still living inside me."

Through it all, Leanne showed remarkable bravery. Justice Williams, in awarding her damages, noted that Bowie preyed on her vulnerability in a way that went to the very “foundation of the legal profession” and praised her for holding him accountable. Justice Cooper, in Bowie’s criminal trial, recognized how extraordinary it was that Leanne continued to stand up for herself despite the risks .

Leanne has lost her job, her financial security, and years of her life to trauma, fear, and depression. She takes multiple medications just to cope. She won her civil case — but Bowie has not paid her a cent.

Now she needs our help. On the day Bowie is sentenced to jail, we are launching this campaign to support Leanne as she tries to rebuild her life. Every dollar raised will go directly to helping her and her child find stability, safety, and healing.

Leanne stood up when it mattered most. She spoke out when silence would have been easier. Please stand with her now.