ALEX HARRADINE SHOCKS LUTON AND STRATFORD WITH SEX OFFENSES AGAINST TEEN GIRLS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Luton and Stratford, Alex Harradine, aged 26, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses involving minors. Harradine, a resident of Grosvenor Road, Luton, was convicted of multiple charges related to the exploitation and abuse of young girls, including a 14-year-old Stratford girl and a younger girl he babysat in Luton.

The court heard that Harradine had initially met the Stratford girl at a wedding they both attended. Following this encounter, he maintained contact with her through phone calls and online messaging, which eventually led to disturbing revelations during the trial. The girl’s mother recounted that in March 2010, she overheard her daughter speaking on the phone, discussing her departure for work. She listened as her daughter asked about “the first choice,” “the second,” and “the third,” indicating Harradine’s attempts to manipulate her.

Further investigation revealed a pattern of inappropriate communication between Harradine and the girl, including explicit messages and images. The girl disclosed that Harradine had exposed himself to her and had sexually touched her on multiple occasions. She also described how he sent her naked pictures of himself engaging in sexual acts, which she subsequently deleted. Despite Harradine’s attempts to persuade her to send similar images, she refused, and she also turned down his requests for her to perform sex acts or have intercourse with him.

When Harradine was arrested, he responded with a simple “no comment” to all questions regarding his contact with the girl. However, subsequent inquiries uncovered that he had also abused a younger girl in Luton when she was approximately nine or ten years old, while her parents had employed him as a babysitter. Harradine denied all allegations, claiming that none of the incidents had occurred and accusing both girls of lying and attempting to blackmail him. His defense was ultimately rejected by the jury, who found him guilty of all charges within an hour.

The charges against Harradine included causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a girl to watch a sex act, and engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He was also convicted of attempting to sexually assault the younger girl while babysitting her. The court heard testimony from the girls’ mothers, who expressed their horror and concern over Harradine’s manipulative behavior and the disturbing evidence of his misconduct. The mother of the Stratford girl recounted overhearing her daughter discussing Harradine’s inappropriate advances and the explicit content he had sent her.

Judge Marten Coates, presiding over the case, described Harradine as a “dangerous man,” emphasizing the severity of his actions and the material found on his phone, which was not presented during the trial but contributed to the judge’s assessment. Harradine was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was remanded into custody, with the judge making it clear that he should expect a lengthy prison sentence. The case has highlighted the dangers posed by individuals like Harradine, who exploit trust and manipulate vulnerable minors for their own gratification, leaving lasting scars on their victims and communities alike.