GERALD ALLAIRE FROM CLAYTON-LE-MOORS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN PRESTON AND CARLISLE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Clayton-le-Moors and beyond, Gerald Frederick Allaire has been convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young boy during the 1990s. The court heard that Allaire, who previously resided on Devonshire Drive in Clayton-le-Moors, engaged in sexual abuse while the victim was in a vulnerable state, recovering from a motorbike accident. The abuse inflicted lasting psychological harm on the victim, who bravely read an impact statement during the sentencing hearing, describing feelings of despair and shame. The victim stated, “I don’t feel there’s any light at the end of the tunnel. I felt I was carrying a dirty secret around in my mind. I was embarrassed to tell anybody.”

Gerald Allaire, now aged 45 and currently residing in Liverpool, was found guilty after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court. The charges included two counts of indecent assault, which stemmed from incidents that took place in the 1990s. The court was told that Allaire’s past included a conviction in 2008 for possessing indecent images of children, for which he served time in prison. His previous criminal record also includes a sentence of one year for possessing 33 hours of child abuse footage, which was discovered on his computer after police seized his equipment from his home in Clayton-le-Moors.

During the 2008 case, Allaire claimed that someone else must have accessed his computer remotely and uploaded the illegal images without his knowledge. Despite this, a jury convicted him of 14 charges related to making indecent images of children. The police investigation revealed that his computer contained over 107 video clips involving young boys, with images categorized into various levels of severity, the most serious being level five. The files were stored within a structured folder system, indicating deliberate collection and storage of such material. Allaire’s actions led to him being banned from working with children indefinitely and being placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

At the recent sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge James Adkin emphasized the ongoing impact of such abuse, stating, “If ever there was a case to demonstrate that abuse of small vulnerable children for sexual purposes continues to resonate over the years, even when those individuals are grown into adulthood, this case demonstrates that feature.” The judge also clarified that he did not classify Allaire as a ‘dangerous offender,’ but highlighted the serious nature of his crimes.

Throughout the proceedings, the victim expressed his outrage and disappointment, describing Allaire as a “vile, disgusting human being.” He added that “no sentence will ever be long enough” and expressed hope that his bravery in coming forward would encourage other victims to speak out. The victim, who resides in Hyndburn and cannot be named for legal reasons, recounted the emotional toll of giving evidence during the trial, sharing that he had never been in court before and was overwhelmed by the experience. He said, “I cried my eyes out. It was horrible. I couldn’t sleep. When he was found guilty, I just broke down. I didn’t even look at anyone. I just burst out crying and had to have my hands over my head. I was just so glad and relieved that it was all worth it.”

In a statement following the sentencing, the victim reiterated his desire to move forward and expressed his disdain for Allaire’s actions, emphasizing that he hopes others will find the courage to report similar crimes. The case has once again brought to light the importance of vigilance and the need for ongoing efforts to protect children from predators like Allaire, whose criminal activities have left a lasting scar on his victims and the community of Clayton-le-Moors.