Alan Harris, a former solicitor, was found guilty of sexually assaulting six men and one woman, with the offences taking place between 1989 and 2015
A former defence solicitor, Alan Harris, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his clients over a span of several years. The 72-year-old, from Thorn Park, Plymouth, was convicted by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of five counts of indecent assault and five counts of sexual assault. However, he was found not guilty of two counts of rape.
The offences occurred between 1989 and 2015, involving six men and one woman whom Harris had provided legal representation for. The abuse took place in various locations, including cells at Charles Cross Police Station in Plymouth, Plymouth Magistrates’ Court, and Harris’s car.
During the trial, the victims testified that Harris made them perform sexual acts on him and also touched them inappropriately. One additional man had accused Harris of indecent assault, but this charge was among those Harris was acquitted of.
Plymouth Magistrates’ Court by N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Prosecution barrister Anne Whyte KC stated that Harris showed “absolutely no respect” for his victims, suggesting that he had acted in self-preservation during the trial, believing the victims to be “second-class citizens.” In contrast, defence barrister Christine Agnew KC claimed the victims, all of whom were convicted criminals, had fabricated their testimonies.
Harris, who ended his legal career in 2016, defended his actions by claiming that any touching was “pre-arranged” and non-sexual, intended to help clients take a breath or “shut up” during interviews.
Following a five-week trial, the jury found Harris not guilty of nine other charges of indecent and sexual assault. He has been released on conditional bail and will be sentenced on 25 and 26 February 2026.
Senior investigating officer, Chief Superintendent Roy Linden of Devon and Cornwall Police, praised the courage of the victims for coming forward and placing their trust in the criminal justice system. He added, “Alan Harris has been convicted of despicable sexual offences against victims he targeted because of their vulnerability, thinking nobody would ever believe them.”
Linden also encouraged other victims of sexual offences to report their experiences, assuring that each case would be reviewed on its own merits.
(Source: BBC)