ALAN BROWN FROM SNAITH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST GIRLS IN YORKSHIRE AND BELGIUM

In September 2006, a disturbing case unfolded involving Alan Brown, a man from Snaith who was convicted of heinous sexual crimes committed against young girls. Brown, aged 59 at the time, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting three schoolgirls and subsequently fleeing the country to evade justice.

Brown was living a double life, maintaining a facade of respectability while secretly hiding his criminal activities. He had resided in Belgium for some time, where he concealed from his neighbors that he was wanted for sex offenses committed in both East and North Yorkshire. Despite being at large for eight years, Brown’s criminal history was complex. Notably, he once voluntarily returned to the UK, only to be released without charges due to a lack of evidence. However, his past caught up with him when he was finally brought to face justice.

The court heard that Brown’s crimes spanned several years, with his offending beginning in the early 1990s. His victims, all young girls aged between nine and 12 at the time, faced severe trauma. Two of these women, now adults, confronted Brown during his court appearance at Hull Crown Court, where he was sentenced to a long-term prison term. The judge, Mr. Justice Tom Cracknell, described Brown’s actions as “appalling and wicked,” emphasizing the lasting damage inflicted upon the victims.

Prosecutor Jharna Jobes detailed the extent of Brown’s abuse. She revealed that he had introduced one of the girls to pornography stored in his loft and had given her a sex toy when she was only 12 years old. The court was also told that Brown had indecently touched another girl under her clothing, an act she fiercely resisted by striking out at him. In her attempt to protect herself, she even slept in a zipped-up sleeping bag to avoid further assault. When she threatened to tell her mother, Brown arrogantly dismissed her concerns, saying, “What are you going to tell? We were only talking about school.”

Brown’s criminal activity was interrupted when he left North Yorkshire, but he later returned to Snaith, where he committed additional offenses against two more girls between 1996 and 1998. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault, acknowledging his guilt in court.

His arrest in 1998 marked a turning point. Brown was questioned and charged, but he failed to appear in court, fleeing to Belgium in a panic. It was revealed that he was frightened by the treatment of sex offenders in UK prisons, which prompted him to hitchhike around before settling in Zuidlan, Blankenburg. Despite efforts by police to extradite him, Brown managed to obtain a new passport and returned to the UK to face justice. The authorities indicated that he could face a maximum sentence of ten years.

During the court proceedings, Brown sat silently, unable to meet the gaze of the victims’ families, who watched from nearby seats, some of whom were visibly distressed and sobbing. His defense lawyer, Ian Goldsack, expressed that Brown wished to show remorse and had sought treatment, including counseling and medical help. Goldsack stated, “He says he will never be able to get over what he did,” and added that Brown did not understand why he committed these acts.

In his statement, Brown apologized, citing long working hours, alcohol consumption, and a loss of intimacy as contributing factors to his behavior. However, Judge Cracknell was unequivocal in his sentencing remarks. He emphasized the seriousness of Brown’s offenses, which spanned over a decade, and condemned his actions as disfiguring the lives of the victims in ways that could never be repaired. The judge also ordered that Brown be placed on the National Sex Offenders’ Register and considered for an extended three-year period of supervision upon his release.

As Brown was led away in handcuffs to begin his prison sentence, he did not look at the victims or their families. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse and the importance of justice for those affected.