ALAN GRAHAM FROM CHESTER-LE-STREET SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE AT DURHAM CROWN COURT

In October 2012, a significant legal case unfolded involving Alan Graham, a resident of Chester-le-Street, who was sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a series of serious historic sexual offenses. The case drew considerable attention due to the nature of the crimes and the defendant's delayed admission of guilt.

Alan Graham, aged 75, faced charges related to multiple instances of sexual assault committed against a child in the past. The proceedings at Durham Crown Court revealed that Graham had initially denied the charges but later, on the day his trial was scheduled to commence, he changed his pleas to guilty. This change occurred on Monday, September 10, during the trial preparations, after he had already admitted to 15 other charges, including indecent assault, gross indecency with a child, and inducing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Graham’s residence at the time was on Bullion Lane in Chester-le-Street, and he had been in custody since his initial admissions in March of the same year. The court was informed that the defendant’s delay in admitting guilt was viewed unfavorably by the presiding judge, Christopher Prince. The judge explicitly warned Graham to expect a substantial sentence, emphasizing the gravity of his actions and the impact on the victim.

Following a comprehensive review of background reports prepared by the Probation Service, Graham was brought back before Judge Prince for sentencing. During this hearing, the judge made it clear that Graham had shown no remorse for his actions, stating, “You have shown no remorse, to this day.” The timing of Graham’s plea change was considered an aggravating factor, leading the judge to reduce the amount of credit Graham could receive for his late admission.

Ultimately, Judge Prince sentenced Graham to 16 years in prison. In addition to the custodial sentence, the judge imposed a sexual offences prevention order that would remain in effect until further notice. This order restricts Graham from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16 upon his release, unless explicit permission is granted by the child's parent or guardian. Furthermore, Graham is required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, ensuring that authorities are notified of his whereabouts at all times in the future.

The case underscores the serious consequences of historic child abuse and highlights the judicial system’s stance on such offenses, especially when offenders delay admitting guilt and show no remorse. The community in Chester-le-Street and beyond remains vigilant, knowing that justice has been served in this troubling case.