STEVE ALLAN'S DEVON CRIME: TORQUAY PAEDOPHILE BASKETBALL COACH JAILED FOR BREACHES

In December 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Steven Allan, a man with a troubling past who had relocated to the seaside town of Torquay in Devon, seeking to start anew. Allan, a 36-year-old resident of Babbacombe Road, was a former basketball coach with a history of sexual offenses, and his presence in the community raised serious concerns about the safety of local children.

Despite being under strict legal restrictions, Allan repeatedly violated a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that explicitly prohibited any contact with minors under the age of 16. His breaches included forming friendships with at least four families in the area, all of whom were unaware of his criminal background. These families trusted him to care for their children, including young boys, without any suspicion of his past.

The authorities became suspicious when police officers supervising Allan received a phone call from him. During the call, the supervising officer inadvertently overheard children in the background, which raised alarm bells. This incident prompted further investigation into Allan’s activities and his adherence to the conditions of his SOPO.

Steven Allan was subsequently charged with five breaches of his SOPO. He admitted to these violations and also requested that seven additional cases be considered against him. His actions and the breaches were viewed as highly serious by the court, given his history and the nature of his violations.

At Exeter Crown Court, Recorder Mr. Andrew Oldland, QC, sentenced Allan to a prison term of two years and three months. During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the gravity of Allan’s misconduct, stating, “These parents were completely unaware of your background, and you were able to take one boy to a motorcycle rally and another to a festival. In my judgment, your breaches of the order were not only flagrant but also motivated by your sexual desires.”

Prosecutor Mr. David Bowen provided context about Allan’s criminal history, revealing that he had previously been jailed in 2000 in Liverpool for six counts of indecent assault on boys aged nine to eleven. At that time, Allan was working as a sports coach. After serving his sentence, he moved to Devon in 2012, where he ingratiated himself into local families in Torbay, again hiding his past. His interactions with these families appeared to be grooming behaviors, as he managed to gain their trust and was entrusted with babysitting their children.

Mr. Bowen explained that Allan’s supervision was not foolproof, and the police’s accidental overhearing of children during a phone call was a critical turning point in uncovering his ongoing breaches. The parents, unaware of his criminal record, had placed their faith in him, believing he was a trustworthy individual.

Defending counsel Miss Ann Bellchambers stated that Allan had not engaged in any inappropriate conduct with the children and expressed that he found it difficult to disclose his past to the parents. She also highlighted that Allan had not committed any further offenses since his original conviction in 2000, suggesting that he had shown some level of remorse or restraint since then.

Overall, the case underscored the dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses who attempt to reintegrate into communities without proper disclosure or oversight, especially when legal restrictions are knowingly or unknowingly breached.