In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Allan Pollitt, then 65, of Wellington Terrace, Birkenhead, Merseyside, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. On Friday, 12 July 2019, Pollitt appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, where he was jailed for “reprehensible” and “violent” sexual assaults against a child that occurred more than four decades ago.
The investigation established that in the early 1970s, Pollitt “calculatingly” targeted a teenage boy at the Parkfield Children’s Home in Aigburth, Liverpool. On two separate occasions, Pollitt crept into the victim’s dormitory at night and carried out “terrifying” and “violent” sexual attacks. The prosecution reported that after the second assault, Pollitt “callously” told the child to “clean himself up.” The victim “persistently” kept the secret for over 40 years due to embarrassment and fear of not being believed, only disclosing the “abhorrent” trauma to a psychiatrist in 2016.
Serial Offending and Scout Association History
The court reported that Pollitt was a “prolific” predator who had previously been jailed for 15 years in 1997 (later reduced to 12 years on appeal) for “systematic” sexual abuse against six young boys. His previous victims included Cubs and residents of a Liverpool children’s home. Pollitt had held a “sinister” position of trust as a former Scout leader and director of the Birkenhead Scout Gang Show, admitting to indecently assaulting two Scouts among his victims, who were aged between nine and 17.
Judge Gary Woodhall emphasised that Pollitt had failed to “come clean” about his additional crimes during his 1997 trial. The victim, now aged 60, emphasised in a victim impact statement that the “vile” abuse caused him lifelong difficulty in forming relationships and forming intimacy. The judge noted that the “gravity” of the offending and the “calculating” nature of the dormitory attacks necessitated a “stringent” custodial term to reflect the “serious” harm caused to the survivor.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his “serious” and “appalling” crimes in Birkenhead and Liverpool, Allan Pollitt was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 10 years in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were imposed for life.
- Prohibitions: He is “permanently” banned from working with children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Pollitt is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Merseyside Police. His history of “persistent” grooming within youth organisations and his “vicious” attacks on vulnerable children in care means his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Pollitt must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address on Wellington Terrace, Birkenhead. Authorities state that his “prolific” history of targeting children in dormitories and Scout groups necessitates “stringent” lifelong supervision. Any breach of his registration conditions or any contact with children following his eventual release will result in his immediate return to Liverpool Crown Court.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.