EDDIE HARRISON FROM WATERLOOVILLE AND CLANFIELD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE BOY

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Clanfield and Waterlooville, a man named Eddie Harrison has been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offenses involving a teenage boy. The incident, which took place over a period of time, revealed a disturbing pattern of manipulation, abuse of trust, and exploitation by Harrison, a lay preacher associated with the St James Church in Clanfield.

During the sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Roger Hetherington delivered a stern and condemnatory speech directed at Harrison, emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct. Harrison was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his crimes. The judge described Harrison’s actions as an “insidious process of manipulation,” highlighting the calculated and predatory nature of his behavior.

Judge Hetherington did not hold back in criticizing Harrison’s conduct, characterizing it as “an abuse of trust on a major scale.” He pointed out that Harrison displayed “breathtaking arrogance and hypocrisy” during his testimony, which only served to deepen the court’s disapproval. The judge further explained that Harrison had belittled the victim, criticizing his weight and academic efforts, all while projecting an image of himself as a man of stature, experience, and supposed expertise.

The court heard how Harrison, aged 62, exploited his position within the church and his relationship with the boy to carry out his sinister plans. The jury was informed that Harrison had falsely claimed to be a psychologist with the SAS, claimed to have met the Pope, and even asserted that he was the youngest magistrate in the country. These falsehoods were part of his manipulative tactics to gain the boy’s trust.

The abuse escalated when the victim, then 16, was invited to Harrison’s offices on London Road in Waterlooville. It was there that Harrison took a video of the boy performing a sex act, threatening to distribute the footage unless the boy achieved certain academic results. This coercion was part of a broader pattern of intimidation and exploitation.

As the victim turned 17, he continued to visit Harrison’s office for what he believed were therapy sessions. During these sessions, Harrison would give the boy massages using baby oil, gradually asking him to wear less clothing, until the teenager was completely undressed. Harrison also supplied him with Bacardi Breezers to drink during these encounters. On one particularly disturbing occasion, the boy awoke to find Harrison indecently assaulting him.

Harrison, who resided on London Road in Waterlooville, was found guilty of one count of indecent assault and three counts of distributing indecent images of children. He had denied all charges but was ultimately convicted after the evidence was presented in court.

This case underscores the devastating impact of abuse by trusted community figures and highlights the importance of vigilance and accountability within local institutions. The communities of Clanfield and Waterlooville are left to grapple with the revelations of this disturbing case and the consequences faced by Eddie Harrison.