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Retired Solicitor Alan Harris Jailed for 13 Years for Sexual Offences Against Clients

Police say the long-running Operation Tower inquiry uncovered abuse of clients during private consultations in cells.

Overview

  • The 72-year-old was convicted by a jury in December at Winchester Crown Court of 10 offences against seven victims spanning 1988 to 2015.
  • Most offences occurred during private legal meetings at Plymouth Magistrates' Court and Charles Cross police station, with additional incidents in a car and at a residential address.
  • Sentencing at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Angela Morris called it a grave breach of trust and said there was "no greater fall from grace."
  • Victims delivered impact statements describing lasting psychological harm and referring to Harris as a "monster."
  • Devon and Cornwall Police, led by Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, urged any other potential victims to come forward after investigations codenamed Operation Tower and Operation Tower 2 began in 2015.