ALAN FLOOD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES IN SOUTHAMPTON
In August 2014, Alan Flood, a 66-year-old man from Southampton, was convicted of multiple serious sexual offences against a young girl.The case revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over two years during the early 1990s, involving grooming and indecent assaults on a teenage girl who was then in her early teens.
Flood, residing on Windbury Road in the Millbrook area of Southampton, engaged in a series of inappropriate and criminal acts, which he urged the girl to keep secret.
His misconduct included grooming her with sweets and taking her to a bowling alley, tactics often used by predators to manipulate vulnerable children.
Despite her youth, the girl demonstrated remarkable bravery and resourcefulness by devising a plan to confront Flood and gather evidence against him.
The victim initiated contact with Flood, asking him to get in touch, which led to a series of text message exchanges.
During these communications, she cleverly prompted Flood to recall and admit to the abuse he had inflicted upon her.
Flood responded to her messages, unwittingly providing incriminating evidence that was later used in court to secure his conviction.
Southampton Crown Court heard how Flood’s actions only came to light after the victim’s strategic approach.
The court was told that her initiative was instrumental in exposing his crimes, and her bravery was acknowledged by the presiding judge, Nicholas Rowland.
The judge praised her for her presence of mind in trapping Flood into making admissions through text messages, a remarkable and unusual feature of the case.
Judge Rowland emphasized the devastating impact the abuse had on the victim, noting that her statements and the court proceedings caused her to relive those traumatic experiences.
He also acknowledged Flood’s own health difficulties and remarked that his imprisonment would have implications for his wife.
Flood was found guilty by a jury of two counts of indecent assault, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a girl under 13, and one count of sexual activity with a girl under 14.
Following his conviction, Flood was sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment, marking a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victim and a reminder of the importance of bravery and resourcefulness in confronting abuse.
