Its a misunderstanding that plants don’t need leaves any more after fruits are grown.
Yes they do.
To bring flavours and sugars to fruit.
Unless one counts colouring of fruit as ripening.
Also blight can land and grow on stems, not sure about fruits but I think so.
All in all therefore, as I say many times, remove older leaves lower down but keep those above trusses of fruit.
Outdoor tomatoes are often difficult in damp GB.
But in sunny Exmouth you may manage ripe fruit, hope so!