ALAN ROSS LINTHORPE CHILD SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR ABUSE IN YORKSHIRE AND CASTLETON

In a case that has shocked the local community, Alan Ross, a former children's entertainer from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of child sex offences committed in North Yorkshire during the late 1970s. The conviction follows a detailed trial at York Crown Court, where Ross was found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a young girl.

Judge James Spencer QC delivered the sentence during a hearing at Leeds Crown Court, emphasizing the severity of Ross's actions. The judge described the offences as a "gross breach of trust," highlighting the betrayal of a young child's innocence by someone who was supposed to be a figure of fun and entertainment. Ross, aged 69 at the time of sentencing, had previously worked as a part-time magician and children's entertainer, known to many as Uncle Alan. His career in entertainment was later abandoned in 1994 after he was convicted of indecently assaulting another girl.

The crimes in question took place between 1976 and 1980, when Ross was employed as a signalman on the Esk Valley Line. Despite his job, he supplemented his income by performing magic shows and children's entertainment, which allowed him access to vulnerable children. The jury at York Crown Court heard that Ross exploited his position of trust to groom and sexually abuse a young girl, who was only 10 years old at the time. The judge condemned Ross for his calculated grooming process, which involved gaining the confidence of the child's parents before committing the offences.

During the sentencing, Judge Spencer rejected a plea from Ross's defense lawyer, James Hill, who requested that Ross be considered for a sex offenders' treatment program instead of imprisonment. The judge stated that the passage of 25 years since the offences did not diminish their seriousness and that there was no justification for leniency. He also pointed out that Ross had not admitted to the crimes, which further underscored the gravity of his misconduct.

The prosecution, led by John Elvidge, detailed how Ross manipulated situations to facilitate his abuse. One such incident involved Ross convincing the young girl to help him with a magic trick, then indecently assaulting her while instructing her to keep it a secret. On another occasion, Ross was giving a slide show at a village hall and asked the girl to sit behind the projector, where he again assaulted her. The abuse also occurred at a party held in Castleton Village Hall, where Ross took the girl into a hallway and began touching her, telling her she was "special."

The victim, now in her 30s, bravely testified during the trial, recounting her feelings of confusion and shame. She questioned why she was targeted and expressed her desire to be like other children, rather than feeling unique or special. She revealed that she had kept her ordeal secret out of shame but began seeking counseling in 1997. It was only last year that she felt able to report the abuse to the police.

Ross's criminal history includes a previous conviction in 1994 for indecent assault on a nine-year-old girl, for which he received a probation order. Despite this, he continued to offend, and his latest conviction underscores the importance of safeguarding children from predators like him. The court's decision to imprison Ross reflects the seriousness with which the justice system treats such violations of trust and innocence, especially when committed by individuals in positions of authority and care.