ALAN FAIRLESS FROM WEST DENTON SENTENCED FOR STALKING VICTIM'S FAMILY AFTER EARLY RELEASE
In January 2003, a disturbing case unfolded involving Alan Fairless, a convicted paedophile from West Denton, Newcastle, who found himself back behind bars after engaging in a relentless campaign of harassment against the family of a young girl he had previously molested.Fairless, aged 29 at the time, had been convicted at Newcastle Crown Court on charges of two counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child.
His initial sentence was set at three years, but in November, the Court of Appeal in London intervened, ruling that the sentence was excessively harsh and reducing it to two years.
Despite this reduction, Fairless was released on licence from Durham prison on December 13.
However, his freedom was short-lived.
Within days of his release, Fairless began to stalk and harass the family of his young victim, a girl he had molested when she was just 13 years old.
It was reported that he had previously plied her with alcohol before committing the indecent assault.
The victim's mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous for legal reasons, expressed her outrage and disappointment over the leniency shown in Fairless's sentencing.
She described the harrowing aftermath, stating, “The last few weeks have been unbearable.
Neither me nor my daughter have left the house alone since we heard he was hanging around in our area.” She further explained, “The whole thing has just been a nightmare for us.
We are both seeing psychiatrists to try and put the past behind us, but this has brought it all up again.” Adding to their distress, the police have taken steps to protect the family.
The mother revealed that officers have been escorting her to shops and have installed a panic button in their home in case Fairless shows up again.
She expressed her frustration, saying, “I just hope the judges who cut his sentence realize that they made a big mistake and maybe this will stop them from being so lenient in the future.” Northumbria Police confirmed that Fairless was arrested last week for breaching his licence conditions.
He was subsequently returned to Durham jail to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
His early release had been granted after just one year on licence, following a decision by judges at the Court of Appeal in London, who acknowledged that he had not been given enough credit for his early guilty plea.
Mr.
Justice Davis, sitting alongside Lord Justice Rose, explained that Fairless’s early plea was a significant factor in the decision, stating, “It remains the case that he pleaded guilty at the earliest stage, which is particularly important in offences of this kind.
It is also right that he had no previous convictions.” Despite this legal reasoning, the victim’s mother, Mrs.
A, voiced her anguish, saying, “This man completely ruined my daughter’s life.” The case highlights ongoing concerns about the adequacy of sentencing and supervision for sex offenders, especially those with a history of such serious crimes.
