February 2015 Former university of York Doctor jailed for child sex offences A former senior research fellow of York has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and distributing indecent images of children Dr Allan Hall, 61, was a member of the Department of Archaeology since 1977 at the University of York before taking early retirement in August 2013. He was sentenced at York Crown Court to one year in jail for twenty-one accounts of possessing indecent images and films, and eleven charges of distributing material. North Yorkshire Police conducted a raid on his home in June 2013 after alerts from an investigation in Cheshire. Over 7,000 images were found to be in his possession, some of children as young as 18 months. Hall had also used Skype to send 56 inappropriate images of himself, and to send videos of boys as young as six being sexually abused. All of the offences occurred before or on June 19, 2013. Hall was reported to have become isolated since the breakdown of an earlier relationship in 2011. His barrister described him as having “a long and distinguished career which was abruptly brought to an end.” Judge Guy Kearl QC described him as an “intelligent man”, fuelling “a trade that can only exist because people like you are around to view and distribute the images.” A University of York spokesman said: “It is a matter of great regret that a former member of the University should have been convicted of these serious offences.” Hall has been placed on the sex offender’s register for ten years, and is now under a sexual offences prevention order. December 2014 University of York Doctor admits series of “extremely serious offences” involving sexual images of children a former university don is facing jail after admitting a series of “extremely serious offences” involving sexual images of children. Allan Richard Hall is a doctor of archaeology who worked at the University of York for many years. He left its staff recently. At his first appearance before York Crown Court, the 61-year-old from Curnew House, Elvington Terrace, York, pleaded guilty to 11 offences of distributing indecent images of children and 21 offences of possessing indecent images of children. All the offences occurred before or on June 19, 2013. The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, said he had committed “extremely serious offences.” He added: “This is a case where a custodial sentence is inevitable.” His case was adjourned until January 26 while probation officers prepare a pre-sentence report. Hall was released on bail and must now register as a sex offender.