A former criminal defense attorney, Alan Harris, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually abusing vulnerable clients at police stations and court cells, leaving them traumatized. The 72-year-old was found guilty of 10 offenses involving seven victims, with incidents spanning from 1988 to 2015.
Harris, residing in Thorn Park, Plymouth, carried out most of the assaults during private consultations at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court and Charles Cross police station, as well as in his car and at a residential address in Plymouth. The investigations into his actions, known as Operation Tower and Operation Tower 2, began in 2015 and concluded after a decade.
During the sentencing hearing, victims shared the profound impact of the abuse, describing Harris as a “monster” who inflicted recurring nightmares on them. One victim, serving a life sentence for murder, expressed feeling compelled to bury the abuse out of fear of not being believed.
Harris, now retired, accepted the guilty verdicts but disagreed with them, as stated by his advocate, Christine Agnew KC. Despite his outward respectable appearance, Judge Angela Morris emphasized the darker side of his character, highlighting the breach of trust his victims placed in him as their legal advisor.
Chief Superintendent Roy Linden praised the victims for their courage in coming forward and encouraged others in similar situations to report offenses. Those with relevant information are urged to contact Devon and Cornwall Police through their website or by phone, quoting log 369 of 5/11/25.
