KARATE COACH JAILED FOR CHILD ABDUCTION IN WHITEHAVEN
A RICHMOND, Whitehaven, karate instructor, who allowed his home to be used as a hangout by teenage girls has been jailed for two years for child abduction.Allan Joughin, 47, continued to permit the teenagers into his house despite warnings from parents, police, and the local education authority.
He was ultimately arrested after police raided his property and discovered a 14-year-old girl, who had been reported missing, hiding inside a hollowed out armchair.
They also found a quantity of amphetamine valued at over £500.
Joughin was later charged with two counts of child abduction—pertaining to two different girls—and possessing class B drugs with intent to supply.
He denied the abduction charges, claiming that the teenagers, who are unnamed, visited his home willingly and that he was not detaining them.
Although he admitted to possessing drugs, he stated they were for personal use.
He was tried at Carlisle Crown Court in November last year and was found guilty of both abduction charges.
Subsequently, he reappeared in court for sentencing.
Prosecutor Andrew Ford explained that police first learned of the incidents in October 2005 when one girl did not return home; she later reappeared but had video clips and messages from Joughin on her phone.
Four days later, another mother reported her daughter missing.
Concerns grew locally about the number of children gathering regularly at Joughin’s house, with parents approaching him to voice their complaints.
The local education authority also issued a warning due to teenagers gathering during school hours, but Joughin continued to allow them in.
In February, police searched his house after another girl went missing and found her crouching inside a hollowed-out armchair.
They subsequently issued a list of 17 teenagers banned from entering his home.
Police raided his residence again two weeks later after another girl went missing and discovered amphetamines.
They returned with a warrant on March 1 and found a group of teenagers inside.
Joughin claimed the adolescents came voluntarily and did not want to leave.
His lawyer, Greg Hoare, described the situation as an open house where he tried to help the youth, emphasizing there was no sexual activity involved.
The judge, Recorder Bentham QC, acknowledged the unusual circumstances but deemed the offence very serious, noting Joughin's apparent lack of remorse.
He commented that Joughin provided a "house of moral laxity, where drugs and sexual laxity" were available to vulnerable young women.
While the court found no evidence of sexual misconduct, the judge suggested possible underlying sexual motives.
Joughin received two concurrent two-year sentences for each kidnapping charge, with time served (half of the sentence minus 222 days in remand).
An additional 12 months for the drug offence was to run concurrently.
