ALAN AIREY'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN CHESTER AND RUNCORN: PREDATORY PAEDOPHILE'S REIGN OF DECEPTION AND DANGER

In February 2022, a disturbing case unfolded involving Alan Airey, a man with a long history of sexual offences, who managed to conceal his past while forming a relationship with a mother and her children in the Merseyside area, specifically Chester and Runcorn. Airey, aged 37, had previously served a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for child sexual assault and grooming, yet he re-entered society under false pretenses, using an alias to hide his criminal background.

His latest actions came to light after he established a connection with a woman through Facebook, where he adopted a false surname, known to her as Alan Clegg. The woman, who was the mother of two young children and a teenage girl, was unaware of Airey's criminal history at the time. Their relationship began after they exchanged messages on Facebook around Christmas time, which led to Airey visiting her residence in the Merseyside area. The court heard that Airey had been staying over at her house, sometimes for several days at a stretch, and was often alone with her children and the teenage girl, raising serious concerns about the safety and appropriateness of his conduct.

Despite the restrictions imposed by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was designed to prevent him from engaging in such behaviour, Airey’s conduct was found to be in direct violation of these conditions. The police received an anonymous tip following a newspaper article that highlighted Airey's presence at the woman's house. This tip led officers to investigate and eventually arrest Airey on January 23. During his arrest, he initially refused to respond to police questions but later asked, “Is it because I’m here?” indicating awareness of the investigation against him.

The woman admitted that she knew Airey had been released from prison but believed he had been incarcerated for robbery, not sexual offences. She was unaware of his prior convictions for sexual crimes. She also testified that Airey had been using the name Alan Clegg and had sent her a friend request on Facebook around the previous Christmas, which marked the beginning of their interaction. Their relationship, which had developed into an ongoing affair, involved him visiting her home multiple times, sometimes staying overnight, and engaging in what she described as normal family activities.

However, the court was informed that Airey had also been alone with the teenage girl while she was out collecting her children from school, raising further concerns. The teenage girl was interviewed and confirmed that nothing inappropriate had occurred between her and Airey, but her testimony did not diminish the seriousness of his breaches of the law.

During police interviews, Airey made full admissions, confessing that he had not disclosed his stay at the woman's house to his supervising officers and that he had begun an intimate relationship with her. His actions were in clear breach of the SHPO and his prison licence conditions. As a result, Airey was recalled to prison and is not expected to be eligible for release until June of the following year.

Historically, Airey has a criminal record comprising 26 convictions for 53 offences, with the only sexual offences occurring in 2018. Those offences involved sexual activity with two teenage girls and grooming another girl under 16, which led to his imprisonment in 2019. His previous convictions also include a range of other criminal activities, but none of a sexual nature until the 2018 incidents.

In court, Airey pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Judge Recorder Katherine Pierpoint sentenced him to two years in prison. The judge acknowledged that a probation officer had noted Airey’s efforts to turn his life around but emphasized that his recent conduct was a serious and persistent breach lasting approximately a month. The judge highlighted the danger posed by Airey’s concealment of his identity and his breach of licence conditions, which increased the risk to the community.

Furthermore, the court considered a restraining order to prevent Airey from contacting the woman and her family, as requested by the prosecution. However, during the hearing, Airey unexpectedly stated that she was coming to visit him the following day, claiming she was bringing his underwear and that probation was aware of their relationship. Due to these statements, the judge decided not to impose the restraining order, pending further inquiries.

In a related case from February 2019, Airey, then 34, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for predatory behaviour involving a 14-year-old girl. He had followed her to school after grooming her via Facebook, sending sexual messages and later tracking her on foot through a park as she headed to her classes. The police investigation revealed that Airey had been exchanging messages with her until late at night, some of which contained explicit content and comments about her appearance.

The victim, who reported the incident after Airey followed her, expressed her fear and distress, stating that she no longer felt safe going out alone. She also revealed that another girl had come forward, claiming she had been molested by Airey in unrelated circumstances. Airey admitted to sending messages to the girl but claimed he was intoxicated at the time. His criminal record includes 49 previous offences, though none of a sexual nature prior to these incidents.

Judge Simon Berkson described both offences as extremely serious, ruling that only custody was appropriate for Airey’s conduct. The case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offences who attempt to re-engage with vulnerable young people, often under false pretenses and with little regard for the law or community safety.