ALAN HAGAN, THE DANGEROUS CARLISLE SEX OFFENDER, RELEASED NEAR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
In a decision that has raised serious concerns about public safety, Alan Hagan, a convicted sex offender with a long history of violent and predatory behaviour, has been permitted to reside at a hostel in Carlisle, despite the clear risks he poses to women and children in the area.Hagan’s release was authorized by a judge at Carlisle’s Crown Court, who expressed reservations about the proximity of his new residence to local educational institutions, including Carlisle College and the nearby university campus.
The judge, Peter Hughes QC, acknowledged the potential danger but justified the decision by stating that keeping Hagan under supervision in this location was the most feasible option available, given the limited accommodation options within Cumbria.
Hagan, formerly residing in Raffles, Carlisle, was convicted of two separate incidents involving public indecency and inappropriate propositions directed at young female students.
The first incident occurred on January 22 in Carlisle, where he was found to have engaged in lewd behaviour by propositioning two young girls and demanding sexual acts in exchange for money.
The second incident took place three days later in the city centre, involving similar misconduct with one of the original victims and her friend.
Described as a 40-year-old man with a shaven head and a goatee beard, Hagan’s criminal record spans many years, marked by a pattern of sexual offences.
His past convictions include flashing at young girls and sending sexually explicit letters during his youth.
Most notably, in 2004, Hagan was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he abducted and raped an 18-year-old woman at knifepoint in a Carlisle layby.
Hagan’s disturbing history is further compounded by the existence of detailed diaries he kept, which police uncovered in 1996.
These diaries contained explicit references to women he observed in public and plans for sexual assaults, including one entry stating, “Will return next week.
Possible rape.” His obsession with stalking potential victims in Carlisle led to his imprisonment eight years ago in a landmark case that highlighted his dangerous tendencies.
Most recently, in October of the previous year, Hagan was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in a layby between Carlisle and Dalston.
The victim recounted how she accepted a lift from Hagan after a night out, feeling upset and intoxicated.
She described how Hagan drove her to a remote location at high speed, then forcibly engaged in sexual assault while threatening her with a pen-knife.
Her testimony detailed the trauma she endured, including crying and feeling helpless during the attack.
The court proceedings did not initially reveal the full extent of Hagan’s prior offences, but it was known that he had previously sent threatening and sexually explicit letters to a young woman in 1996, which caused her significant psychological trauma.
The police found diaries indicating his intent to commit sexual violence, and he was convicted of causing her actual bodily harm due to the severe emotional impact.
Hagan was released from prison in May 1997, before the enactment of the Sex Offenders Register law, but he was subject to risk management protocols involving probation and other agencies.
These measures aimed to monitor his behaviour and mitigate the risk of re-offending, focusing on his living arrangements, social contacts, and activities.
Judge Batty, QC, emphasized that Hagan’s current sentence could be more severe than his previous eight-year term, and he ordered additional statements from the latest victim and her father to assess the ongoing impact of the crime.
The court’s decision to allow Hagan to live in Carlisle, near educational institutions and vulnerable populations, has sparked widespread concern about the adequacy of current risk management strategies and the safety of the community.
