Ex-solicitor guilty of sexually assaulting clients

A former defence solicitor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting his clients.

Alan Harris, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, was found guilty by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of five counts of indecent assault and five of sexual assault but not guilty of two counts of rape.

The claimants told the trial the 72-year-old had abused them in locations which included cells at Charles Cross Police Station, Plymouth Magistrates' Court and his car.

The jury found Harris not guilty of nine charges of indecent and sexual assault following a five-week trial.

He was released on conditional bail ahead of a sentencing hearing at the same court on 25 and 26 February.

The offences Harris was found guilty of involved six men and a woman who he had provided legal representation for between 1989 and 2015.

Another man had also accused Harris of indecent assault, but this charge was among those he was acquitted of.

The trial heard Harris had made clients perform sexual acts on him and he had also touched them in a sexual manner.

During the trial, prosecution barrister Anne Whyte KC said Harris, who ended his legal career in 2016, had "absolutely no respect" for the victims and had gone through the trial in a move of "self-preservation".

"I'm going to suggest he's done that because he's banking on the victims being seen as second-class citizens and witnesses," she told jurors.

Defence barrister Christine Agnew KC said the claimants were all convicted criminals who had told "full blown lies".

Giving evidence, Harris said he would touch clients in a "pre-arranged" and non-sexual way to get them to take a breath or "shut up" during interviews.

Recorder of Winchester Judge Angela Morris thanked the jury as she dismissed them from the court.

"This has not been an easy matter by any stretch of the imagination," she told jurors.

Ch Supt Roy Linden, senior investigating officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "Alan Harris has been convicted of despicable sexual offences against victims he targeted because of their vulnerability, thinking nobody would ever believe them.

"The victims in this case have shown enormous courage in reporting these offences, placing trust in the criminal justice process and in giving evidence in court. Our thoughts are with them today.

"Speaking directly to victims of sexual offences - we would encourage anyone who has been in this situation to come forward, and we will review each case on its own merits to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed."

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