Victim says solicitor who abused him was a 'monster'

A former criminal defence solicitor found guilty of sexually assaulting seven of his clients has been described by a victim as a "monster" who preyed on the "scared and desperate".

Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, committed the offences between 1988 and 2015, mainly during private legal consultations at Plymouth Magistrates' Court and Charles Cross Police station in the city.

Harris was convicted in December of five counts of indecent assault and five sexual assaults against six men and one woman, most of them teenagers.

Winchester Crown Court heard his victims, some of whom were children at the time, were all extremely vulnerable and they thought no-one would ever believe them.

Harris made his clients perform sexual acts on him while he touched them in a sexual manner, the court was told. He also sexually assaulted one male in his car.

The jury heard that Harris's victims, none of whom can be named, were caught between objecting to his assaults, and knowing he could help them stay out of jail.

One male victim, struggling to hold back tears, told Harris in court: "You abused me at my most vulnerable, at a time when I was supposed to trust you.

"I was scared and desperate. You knew that, and you preyed on me. No one would have believed me. Who would have believed me over you?

"Our parents never knew what you did to us, you monster.

"The effects have been life‑changing. I have recurring nightmares about what you did to me, and I relive it all the time. There is no peace for me. You will always be in my head, in my nightmares.

"No sentence will ever be enough for any of the victims. We are living a life sentence because of what you have done to us."

Another victim, who stood and looked directly at Harris in court, said: "I want you to understand the lasting impact you have had on my life. I continue to live with the repercussions.

"I was young, vulnerable and impressionable, and you were a professional I trusted. You used this against me to control me. You abused your position of trust with sickening sexual acts."

Harris remained silent in the dock with his head bowed as the victim continued: "I was scared and vulnerable. You were supposedly there to help, but you used your privilege to perform sexual acts for your own perverse gratification.

"I am now diagnosed with many complex mental health issues that have affected my daily life. I struggle to look men in the eye and I avoid men's toilets. I quickly become aggressive. My children have suffered. I have self-harmed, attempted suicide, lost my home and my family, and have been living rough.

"I have flashbacks of your smirks and your odour. I have nightmares when awake and see your face pressed against me. I constantly feel dirty.

"Your reputation lies in tatters. The damage you have done will remain with us for life. I hope you reflect on your sickening behaviour and the effect it has had on those you abused."

Another victim said in a statement read in court: "I needed Alan when I was in trouble with the police. Instead he abused me in the magistrates' court cells after I had been charged with murder.

"I was a heroin and crack addict. Alan came to the cell knowing how vulnerable I was.

"He was someone I should have been able to trust, but instead he sexually abused me. He knew there was no escape for me."

The sentencing hearing continues.

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