ALAN HALDANE HORRORS IN HASTINGS AND BEXHILL: CHILD SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Hastings and Bexhill, Alan Haldane, a 63-year-old builder from Priory Avenue, Hastings, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offenses involving young children and foreign students. The crimes span over several years, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that has now been brought to justice.

Haldane was first convicted in September 2017 for the rape and attempted rape of a young girl, who was between the ages of 6 and 8 at the time of the offenses. These crimes were committed between 2009 and 2011 and involved a girl known to him. The severity of his actions led to a prison sentence of 15 years, with a minimum of ten years to be served before eligibility for parole. As part of his sentence, Haldane will remain a registered sex offender for the rest of his life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

Prior to this conviction, Haldane had already been sentenced in April 2016 to six and a half years in prison for a series of sexual offenses committed against three girls aged between three and ten. These offenses included sexual assaults, the creation and distribution of indecent images, and voyeurism. The victims, all known to him, endured prolonged abuse over several years until his arrest. The victims of the indecent images and sexual assaults were children he knew personally, while the voyeurism involved German and French students who were hosted at his Hastings residence and his previous home on Amherst Road in Bexhill.

Haldane’s criminal activities extended beyond direct abuse. Investigations revealed that he had secretly recorded young students showering in his home, using covert video devices strategically placed in his bathroom. The Sussex Police Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT) uncovered evidence of at least 12 to 15 students being recorded, although their identities remain unknown. The investigation was prompted by intelligence suggesting the presence of indecent images uploaded online, leading to a warrant and his subsequent arrest in July 2015 at his Amherst Road address.

During the investigation, police uncovered a disturbing pattern of systematic exploitation. Haldane had acted as a host family for students attending language schools in Hastings and Bexhill from 2005 to 2015. Despite the lack of complaints from the students, authorities believe many more victims were involved, and that Haldane’s abuse was ongoing for over a decade. The evidence collected included numerous indecent images and recordings, which Haldane initially attempted to dismiss as accidental. However, after a thorough examination of his computers, the full extent of his offending was revealed, leading to his guilty plea on 16 counts of sexual offenses.

Haldane’s sentencing included the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which severely restricts his access to children and computers until further court orders. The prosecution’s case highlighted the calculated nature of his crimes, including the use of covert devices to record vulnerable young people without their knowledge. Detective Dave Sharpe from POLIT emphasized the systematic abuse and exploitation carried out by Haldane, noting that many victims were unaware of his actions and that the full scope of his offending may never be entirely known. The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and the wider community, underscoring the importance of vigilance and thorough investigation in protecting children from such predatory individuals.