ALAN BLACKER, THE PREDATORY SEX OFFENDER FROM HEBBURN, STRIKES AGAIN IN NORTH EAST

In November 2011, a young girl from Hebburn endured a terrifying ordeal at the hands of a convicted sex offender, Alan William Blacker. The incident unfolded as she was walking alone through Waterside Park in Hebburn, a town in the North East of England, after disembarking from a Metro train. Blacker, aged 32 at the time, had only recently been released from prison two months prior, having served time for breaching a sexual offences prevention order. His presence in the area and his actions that day would lead to a conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.

The victim, a 16-year-old girl, recounted her harrowing experience to the Gazette. She explained that after getting off the Metro, she was walking along a path when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Initially, she thought someone was seeking help, but her perception changed instantly when Blacker, who had been following her, suddenly grabbed her and pushed her against a fence in Waterside Park. Without warning, he began kissing her, and she froze in fear. Despite her pleas and protests, Blacker persisted, attempting to kiss her on the lips and forcibly trying to remove her hands to expose himself.

The girl managed to break free from his grasp when she sensed he believed he was about to be interrupted. However, Blacker quickly caught her again, forcing her hands down his trousers. She desperately tried to push him away, repeatedly pleading with him to stop. Her efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and Blacker ran off when he thought he was about to be caught. The girl, shaken and distressed, managed to reach her destination, where she washed her hands thoroughly. Interestingly, she forgot to wash her face, which proved crucial for forensic investigators. The DNA evidence collected from her face led to Blacker's identification and subsequent arrest.

Blacker appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to face charges related to the assault. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was sentenced to 27 months in prison, with an additional five-year extended licence period. As part of his sentence, he is required to register as a sex offender for life and is permanently barred from working with children. The victim, who attended the court hearing, expressed her relief at seeing justice served. She stated, “I didn’t have to go to court, but I wanted to. I wanted to see him go to jail.”

Since the attack, the girl has been suffering from panic attacks and has become significantly more cautious around strangers. Her mother shared her concerns, revealing that CCTV footage showed Blacker watching her daughter on the Metro and following her off the train. She described how Blacker had pulled his hoodie over his face to conceal his identity. The mother expressed her horror upon learning of Blacker’s past, emphasizing how frightening it was that he was free to walk the streets. She also noted Blacker’s apparent lack of remorse during the court proceedings and voiced her outrage that someone with his criminal history was not kept behind bars for life.

Blacker’s criminal record is extensive. His history dates back to 1995 when, as a juvenile, he raped two young girls aged eight and six near Newcastle’s Town Moor. Following this, he was placed under a guardianship order and later subjected to a sexual offences prevention order in February 2004, which prohibited him from contact with minors and participating in activities involving children. Despite these restrictions, Blacker breached the order in 2005 by meeting a child after grooming her online. He was subsequently imprisoned for this breach. After his release, he was seen playing with children as young as five outside a church in Newcastle. His repeated breaches and criminal behavior culminated in his latest attack in South Tyneside, demonstrating a disturbing pattern of predatory conduct that has spanned over a decade.