Former Plymouth solicitor will face rape and sexual assault trial next year

A former criminal defence solicitor will stand trial next year at Winchester Crown Court where he will face a total of 21 charges, including rape and sexual assaults on a number of alleged victims over a 27-year period.

Alan Harris, now aged 70 and from Thorn Park in Plymouth, appeared briefly at Bristol Crown Court last month where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He had previously been summonsed to Plymouth Magistrates' Court to appear but the venue was changed to Bristol Magistrates' Court last month.

Harris was a well-known Plymouth defence solicitor who represented a large number of defendants when he practised law at his firm, which was based at short distance from Plymouth Magistrates' Court in St Andrews Street.

The charges relate to incidents reported to have taken place in Plymouth between 1988 and 2015, involving nine complainants. Harris has pleaded not guilty to all 21 charges which are listed below.

The charges are:

* rape of a male between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002 in Plymouth

* committed buggery on a male aged under 21 between January 1, 1992 and March 15, 1992 in Plymouth

* indecently assaulted a male on more than one occasion in Plymouth between January 1, 1997 and April 30, 2004

* intentionally sexually touched a male without their consent between March 1, 2004 and December 31, 2008

* indecent assault on a male in Plymouth between January 1, 1997 and April 30, 2004

* intentionally sexually touched male on more than one occasion in Plymouth between May 1, 2004 and December 31, 2013

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2002

* indecently assaulted a man on more than one occasion between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002 in Plymouth

* indecently assaulted a man in a car on more than one occasion between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002 in Plymouth

* indecently assaulted a man on more than one occasion between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002 in Plymouth

* intentionally sexually touched a woman without her consent between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 in Plymouth

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth by making him perform oral sex between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth my rubbing against his crotch between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth by making him perform oral sex between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth by rubbing against his crotch between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth by making him perform oral sex between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1994

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002

* intentionally sexually touched a man without his consent in Plymouth between November 1,2004 and November 30, 2004

* indecently assaulted a man in Plymouth between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1988

* indecent assault on a male in Plymouth between April 11, 1988 and December 31, 1989.

The Crown Prosecution Service previously made a request when the case last appeared on November 1 at Bristol Crown Court to change the venue out of the western circuit. It was agreed and the case was Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire.

A further case management hearing took place at Winchester Crown Court today, presided over by The Recorder of Winchester, Judge Angela Morris.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC and defence Christine Agnew KC agreed a trial date of November 3, 2025. Ms Agnew KC said she felt the trial would not take the originally estimated seven weeks and would take between four and five weeks.

Mr Harris, who did not attend the hearing, remains on conditional bail.

Devon and Cornwall Police have previously stated: "We would remind people that there should be no speculation or sharing of information online which could prejudice these proceedings. By law, any alleged victim of a sexual crime is automatically granted anonymity for life.

"Anyone who may have been affected by anything raised in this article can contact police via the Force website or by telephoning 101."

Independent and confidential advice is also available by contacting the Devon and Cornwall Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900 or the NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000.

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