Alleged abuse victims accused of 'full blown lies'

Alan Harris has denied 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape

People claiming a former defence solicitor sexually assaulted them have spread "falsehoods" about him including throughout his ongoing trial, a court has been told.

Alan Harris, 72, of Thorn Park, Plymouth, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of 12 charges of indecent assault, eight charges of sexual assault and two charges of rape, dating from 1989 to 2015.

Defence barrister Christine Agnew KC said the alleged victims had told "full blown lies" in their evidence against Mr Harris, who denies all the charges.

During her summing up of the defence's case, Ms Agnew said the alleged victims were not credible while Mr Harris was.

During the trial, the jury has been told Mr Harris allegedly carried out the abuse at Plymouth Magistrates' Court, Charles Cross Police Station and in his own office and car.

Ms Agnew said lies had been spread by the alleged victims like "knotweed".

"Falsehoods are flying and we're asking you [the jury] to see through them," she said.

Ms Agnew told the court there was a "high bar" for proving a defendant was guilty of the crimes Mr Harris had been accused of.

"The evidence in this case falls a long way short of making you sure and reaching that high bar," she said.

'Did not respect the law'

She told the jury there was a "whiff of collusion and contamination" about the allegations which led to "full blown lies" being told about Mr Harris.

"Once people start to lie and that genie is let out of the bottle, no-one is getting it back in," she said.

Ms Agnew said the alleged victims were all convicted criminals who had spent a large part of their life being dishonest and "simply did not respect the law".

She added: "Virtually all of the people had extremely difficult lives, but you can't ignore the reality of how they chose to live their lives.

"There's a distinction to be drawn against them and Alan Harris. They are living worlds apart."

'Wasn't a magician'

She said Mr Harris was a man who had "hundreds and thousands" of contented clients, many of whom, including some of those accusing him of sexual abuse, used him multiple times.

Ms Agnew said the idea some of the alleged victims kept using him for legal representation because he could get them out of jail had no merit.

"He was good, but he wasn't a magician and we know that he's not a magician because a lot of his clients went to prison," she told the court.

"But they kept coming back to him."

The trial continues.