Lesley was the winner of Royal Television Society: Postgraduate Craft Skills Editing Award in 2022. The judges said:

“Apart from a compelling narrative, the cutting of dialogue and punctuation between scenes helped set the tone and is part of the reason of why this was a clear favourite. The seamless editing from start to finish meant the cuts were not abrasive, and the story was able to breathe and flow when needed. In particular, how the dialogue was cut helped the audience even further, immersing them into the underground world of producing cannabis through the eyes of this vulnerable young boy.”

She was also the winner of the Avid Award for Excellence in Editing in 2021. The Avid jury said:

“Caterpillar is a film about modern day slavery in the UK, which was skilfully and sensitively edited by Lesley, who we feel demonstrated an impressive confidence, and a strong understanding and appreciation of the craft of editing.”