ALAN ECCLES FROM BEARSEN CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES NEAR GLASGOW

Alan Eccles, a 44-year-old solicitor based in Bearsden, has been found guilty of serious child sex offences in a case that has shocked the local community and the wider legal profession. The conviction was handed down at Paisley Sheriff Court, where Eccles faced three charges related to his conduct involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

Eccles, who is known for his expertise in charity law and has contributed extensively to the field through writings on establishing trusts and Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organizations (SCIOs), admitted to engaging in highly inappropriate and offensive conversations. These conversations, which were deemed grossly offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing, were related to the sexual abuse of children. The court also found that Eccles had shared indecent photographs of children, along with an intimate picture of a woman, from an address in Giffnock, near Glasgow, during the period between October 22 and November 14, 2023.

The details of the case have sent ripples through the legal community, especially given Eccles’s professional standing and his role as an adviser to numerous charities. Rachel Wood, representing the Law Society of Scotland, emphasized that the organization takes swift action against solicitors who fail to uphold the highest standards of conduct. Such actions include pursuing disciplinary measures through the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal.

At present, Eccles is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled to take place next month. The case continues to attract significant media attention, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations and the importance of accountability within the legal profession.