Convicted solicitor was told in 2015 not to see clients alone

VITAL DETAIL NEVER CAME OUT IN COURT DESPITE HIS CENSURE

- By CARL EVE

Alan Harris arriving at Winchester Crown Court, ahead of his sentencing ANDREW MATTHEWS

(ANDREW MATTHEWS)

A PLYMOUTH criminal defence solicitor jailed for 13 years for the sexual abuse of vulnerable clients over 27 years - many while they were held in custody - was banned in 2015 from seeing clients on his own.

Alan Harris, aged 72 and from Thorn Park, Plymouth, was found guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court in December of 10 offences - five counts of indecent assault and five of sexual assault - against seven victims. He was cleared of two counts of rape.

The offences took place between 1988 and 2015 at a number of locations - including the cells and consultation rooms at Charles Cross police station custody suite, the cells under Plymouth Magistrates' Court, a residential address in Plymouth and in his car.

Harris was jailed for 13 years last week, after what police described as a “despicable betrayal” of his position.

Judge Angela Morris said the victims were “desperate” for his professional help and felt “powerless to stop you” as he sexually assaulted them. She noted that all his victims were “vulnerable in one sense or another”.

She observed: “Some were young, barely into their teenage years. Others were vulnerable because of the dependency on drugs and alcohol, others because of a combination of factors, including their chaotic lifestyle, family backgrounds or history.”

In January, The Herald reported how the authority which regulates solicitors across England and Wales confirmed they may carry out disciplinary action against Harris following his sentencing hearing.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) confirmed it was aware of the criminal investigation - named Operation Tower 1 - from when it was first launched in 2015.