GARY ALMAN OF CHESTER PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES AND ROBBERY

In August 2012, a man named Gary Alman, who was convicted of robbery, admitted to a serious sexual offence involving a child. Alman, 20 years old, previously targeted a pensioner in Chester, dragging a 71-year-old woman along the ground while attempting to steal her handbag during an incident on the canal towpath. This earlier attack led to his sentencing in March of that year to two years in a young offenders' institution.

During a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, Alman pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child, including three counts of rape and two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 11 years old. The court was told that for six years, Alman had sexually abused the same child, beginning with sexual touching when she was between six and seven years old. He then raped her a year later and continued the abuse until she reached 11.

It was revealed that Alman, who is now 20, began his inappropriate conduct when he was just 12 years old, abusing the girl when she was under seven. His assaults continued until two years prior to the court appearance. Prosecutor Mark Connor stated that Alman was already serving time for a failed attempted robbery in September of the previous year.

"He was only a child when he committed these offences, he was between the ages of about 12 and 17 years old," Mr. Connor said.

Alman is expected to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and is set to be sentenced during the week beginning September 3 at Chester Crown Court. Until then, he remains in custody to serve the sentence for his earlier offences.