ALAN MACDONALD'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN HARNHAM AND SALISBURY: 13-YEAR ESCAPE ENDS WITH JUSTICE

In March 2017, a disturbing case of child abuse and subsequent flight from justice unfolded involving Alan MacDonald, also known as Alan Keenan, a man with a dark history rooted in the Harnham area and Salisbury. The case reveals a pattern of grooming, sexual assault, and a dramatic attempt to evade accountability that spanned over a decade.

MacDonald, now aged 65, was found to have begun grooming a young girl when she was only seven years old. His manipulative actions escalated into repeated sexual assaults over a period of years. The victim, who is now an adult and a mother of four, recounted how MacDonald, who initially befriended her family when she moved into a refuge with her mother in the late 1990s, gradually infiltrated her life with sinister intent.

He later resided in a Christian care hostel in Salisbury, where he lived on the upper floor, maintaining contact with the family even after they moved to different parts of the city. MacDonald’s relationship with the girl’s family was characterized by frequent visits, including babysitting her when her mother was working late. Court documents reveal that during these visits, he sometimes stayed overnight on a spare bed in her room, further entrenching his inappropriate influence.

Tragically, the grooming extended into sexual abuse when the girl was just nine years old. The court heard that MacDonald began discussing sex with her when she was eight, and one night, while babysitting, he massaged her and touched her sexually above her clothing. Over time, his actions became more invasive, with him touching her more intimately, including placing his hands down her pyjama shorts while she watched television. He also manipulated her into playing sexualized games, such as “doctors and nurses,” and performed sex acts in front of her, attempting to coerce her into performing acts upon him.

In a police interview, MacDonald, who previously resided on Middle Street in Harnham, dismissed these allegations as “innocent messing around that had been horribly misconstrued.” Despite the setting of a trial date, MacDonald failed to appear in court, choosing instead to flee the UK. He traveled to New Zealand, where he changed his name, obtained a new passport, and managed to return to the UK on visits to see his mother, all while avoiding detection by authorities.

His escape lasted for 13 years until he was finally extradited back to the UK in November 2016 after a series of failed attempts to bring him to justice. The long pursuit culminated in his sentencing at Salisbury Crown Court, where he received a sentence of six-and-a-half years in prison for multiple counts of indecent assault and indecency with a child. Additionally, he was sentenced to six months for failing to surrender to court.

The victim, now an adult, provided a powerful statement describing the profound impact of MacDonald’s abuse. She recounted how her childhood happiness was shattered by his actions, which she now recognizes as grooming. She expressed her fears of not being believed and her feelings of dirtiness and shame. Her statement detailed her ongoing mental health struggles, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, and nightmares. She revealed that her trauma began early, with her first suicide attempt at age 12, and that her life has been marked by the scars of her abuse.

During the sentencing hearing, defense lawyer Giles Nelson acknowledged MacDonald’s guilty plea, emphasizing that it spared the victim from reliving her ordeal in court. Nelson described MacDonald’s behavior as manipulative and controlling, and noted that his client accepted the wrongfulness of his actions, which he characterized as “thoroughly wrong.” The lawyer also pointed out that MacDonald had fled out of fear of imprisonment.

Judge Keith Cutler described MacDonald’s conduct as “quite clearly disgusting,” condemning his grooming of the victim as “as a sexual object of your own perverted lust.” The judge recounted the timeline, beginning with a mother seeking refuge for herself and her daughter in the 1990s, progressing through the development of an inappropriate and perverted relationship, and culminating in MacDonald fleeing to New Zealand for 13 years. The judge expressed relief that justice had finally been served and emphasized the importance of protecting children from such predators.

As part of his sentence, MacDonald is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order. The victim expressed her satisfaction with the length of the sentence, stating she was pleased to be able to “close the chapter” on this painful chapter of her life. Her mother echoed this sentiment, saying that the sentence provides her daughter with the opportunity to move forward and rebuild her life free from the shadow of her abuser.