ALAN POLLARD FROM PETERLEE AND WHEATLEY HILL ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE CASE IN DURHAM

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Peterlee and Wheatley Hill, Alan Pollard, a man accused of heinous child abuse spanning several decades, was recently convicted but ultimately spared imprisonment. The proceedings, held at Durham Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Pollard's alleged grooming and sexual misconduct involving a young boy.

Pollard, who was residing in Peterlee at the time of the initial offenses, faced multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. Despite vehemently denying all allegations, a jury found him guilty last month after hearing evidence that he had engaged in a pattern of grooming the victim over a period of approximately two years. The court was informed that the exact dates of the abuse could not be pinpointed, but the Crown's case was clear that Pollard had assaulted the boy at regular intervals, roughly every few weeks.

The disturbing case only came to light after the victim unexpectedly encountered Pollard in a pub, which prompted him to come forward with his story. The jury was told that the abuse was not confined to a single incident but was a recurring pattern that deeply affected the young boy. The court heard that Pollard had manipulated the victim, persuading him to perform various sex acts during the period of abuse.

In a separate but related case from October 2007, Pollard was also found guilty of abusing a child over 30 years ago. At that time, he was living in Mendip Close, Peterlee, and had visited the victim's family home in another County Durham village. Prosecutor Graeme Gaston detailed how Pollard exploited the sleeping arrangements in the boy’s household, often sharing a room and bed with him. The court was told that Pollard initially gained the boy’s trust by asking questions about puberty, which was part of his grooming process.

The jury was informed that the precise dates of these earlier offenses were also not known, but the Crown maintained that Pollard had abused the boy every few weeks over a span of about two years. As the victim grew older, he confided in a small number of people about the abuse. Matters reached a climax on Christmas Day of the previous year when the victim saw Pollard in a workingmen’s club. This encounter triggered a confrontation, leading to police involvement.

During police interviews, Pollard claimed he never shared a room with the boy and, under cross-examination, admitted that he may have slept in the same bed on no more than three occasions. However, he insisted that no improper acts had taken place during those times. Pollard, aged 57 and residing on Bevan Crescent, Wheatley Hill, was charged with four counts of indecency with a child and four counts of indecent assault of a child under 14, covering the period from September 1975 to September 1977. Despite the gravity of the charges, the jury found him guilty on all counts.

Judge Guy Whitburn QC ordered a delay in sentencing to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. Pollard was granted bail and is scheduled to return to court in November for sentencing, where the full extent of his punishment will be determined. The case has left a lasting impact on the local communities, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.