ALAN OAKMAN SENTENCED IN HASTINGS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL

In a case that has spanned decades, Alan David Oakman, a 65-year-old man from Hastings, has been sentenced to a 12-year prison term for a series of disturbing sexual offences committed against a young girl over 25 years ago. The sentencing took place at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 7 May, with Oakman appearing via videolink from prison, reflecting the seriousness of the charges and the ongoing judicial process.

Oakman, who works as a commercial cleaner and resides on Fellows Road in Hastings, had previously entered a guilty plea on 4 March to multiple counts related to his abuse of the girl. Specifically, he admitted to six counts of gross indecency and three counts of indecent assault, all committed against the girl when she was between the ages of seven and 12. These offences occurred over a period spanning from 1989 to 1994, with incidents taking place in both Hastings and Bexhill.

In addition to these charges, the court ordered a further count of indecent assault on the same victim to be recorded on the court file, indicating the gravity and extent of the abuse. The case also revealed that Oakman was found to possess and make use of indecent images of children. When he was arrested in September 2018, authorities discovered that he had taken and stored 32 such images, which were sourced from the Internet and stored on his computer.

The court's decision underscores the severity of Oakman's actions, which have caused significant harm to the victim and reflect a disturbing pattern of predatory behaviour. The lengthy sentence aims to serve justice and act as a deterrent to similar offences, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.