ALAN NEWENS FROM LYMMSENTENCED AFTER DRIVING INTO TREE TO AVOID TRIAL IN WARRINGTON

In a case that has shocked the community of Lymm and the wider Warrington area, Alan Newens, aged 68, faced severe legal repercussions after a series of heinous crimes spanning over six years. The incident unfolded at Warrington Crown Court, where Newens was scheduled to stand trial for multiple charges of sexual assault against a young girl, beginning when she was just nine years old and continuing until she reached the age of 14.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and the court proceedings, Newens chose a dramatic and evasive method to avoid facing justice. On the day of his trial, December 13, he failed to appear in court. Instead, he drove his vehicle into a tree, claiming that his actions were an attempt to avoid a squirrel. This bizarre excuse was presented to explain his absence, but it did little to mitigate the seriousness of his actions or the court's perception of his conduct.

Judge Roger Dutton, presiding over the case, did not hold back in his condemnation of Newens. During the sentencing, he expressed his disappointment and frustration, stating, “It was only at the trial stage after your victim had come to give her evidence that you did not have the courage to attend. It would have been far better if you had the courage to turn up to the trial and admit what you had been doing at a much earlier stage.”

Following his failure to appear, Newens was arrested and subsequently admitted to six additional charges the following week. The court heard that Newens’s offending began when his victim was just nine years old and continued until she was 14. The details of his crimes, which were described as graphic and disturbing, caused outrage among those present in the courtroom. Friends and family of the victim shouted “rot in hell” as the details were revealed.

Prosecutor Wyn Lloyd-Jones explained that Newens was in hospital at the time, claiming he had driven into a tree to avoid a squirrel, which was used as a reason for his absence. However, his failure to return for the resumption of the trial led to his arrest. During the proceedings, Newens sat with his head bowed, showing remorse for his actions. His defense lawyer, Simeon Evans, acknowledged that Newens understood he had no one to blame but himself and expressed that his client was genuinely remorseful. Evans added that Newens had found the prison environment extremely distressing and was disturbed by the foul language he encountered there.

Judge Dutton delivered a stern message to Newens, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. “Over a period of six years from about nine to 14, you treated her as a sexual object,” he stated. “She describes you now as being vile. She kept this dark secret to herself for some time. It is to be hoped this will be part of the closure for her, she will be able to use today as a milestone in her recovery.”

In light of the evidence and the gravity of his offenses, Newens was sentenced to 12 years in prison, marking a significant chapter in the ongoing efforts to address and combat sexual abuse within the community of Lymm and beyond.