Award-Winning Hair Stylist Molested Two 17 Year-Old Trainees

Suspended Sentence: Luckhurst

An award-winning hair stylist felt he had “a licence” to molest two 17 year-old trainees he took into a rear private area of his salons - groping their breasts and bums, a court heard yesterday.

Married father-of-two Alan Luckhurst, 36, was awarded the ‘Retailer of the Year’ prize while managing a Headmasters salon where he sexually assaulted the first victim.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he was arrested and on bail for those offences when he molested the second victim at another salon Luckhurst opened himself.

The stylist, of Priors Barn House, Beaumont Drive, Worcester Park, Sutton, proudly published on social media a photo of himself and TOWIE star Mark Wright, who was guest of honour at one of those award ceremonies.

“Both were seventeen years-old and you were the manager and later the owner of two salons and you accepted apprentices from colleges to work in your salons and you sexually assaulted both of them,” said Recorder William Featherby KC.

“You went considerably further than ‘making passes’ when you took them into a private room at the rear of each premises under the pretence of discussing their progress.”

Luckhurst fought the charges, making both victims give evidence, but was convicted of six counts of sexually assaulting the first victim, plus one charge of sexual activity on various dates in 2017 at Headmasters Hair Salon, Twickenham

Regarding the second victim he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual activity on various dates in 2021 at The Avenue salon, Sutton.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

Luckhurst must also comply with an 18-month Community Order; attend 35 days of a sex offenders programme; comply with up to thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and obey a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him employing staff under 18 years-old.

Luckhurst repeatedly touched the breasts of the first victim; placed his hand between her legs and pressed his groin against her bum. 

He also groped the breasts of the second victim and once made her touch him intimately between the legs.

All the offences involved groping over the girls’ clothing apart from one incident when he forced his hand under the second victim’s bra.

With TOWIE Star Mark Wright

“You plainly felt an attraction two these young women and felt you had some sort of licence to touch them,” Recorder Featherby told Luckhurst. “You made them both feel vulnerable and frightened.

“They continue to feel violated and vulnerable and these experiences put their careers in other directions.”

Luckhurst’s lawyer Kimberley Aiken told the court: “These convictions have been a massive blow to this man, who has built his career up. He has felt suicidal and his business has been limping on.

“The last six years have been an apocalypse for both him and his wife and they twice had to cancel their wedding when trials were listed and then cancelled.”

Luckhurst spent two years on police bail before the Crown Prosecution Service decided to charge him and his trial was further delayed by Covid and barristers strikes.

“He has already suffered a great deal,” added Ms Aiken. “It is not normal to have to wait his long.

“He understands he is here today to be punished and feels he has already been punished a great deal.

“Apart from these dreadful convictions he has had a positive stable life and adores his two children.

“He has had a pretty rotten wake-up call. He has had the shock of his life and now accepts he was in the wrong, late as it is.

“I ask the court to pass a sentence that allows Mr. Luckhurst to continue building his life, a charitable life rather than living a life in shame on the sex offenders register.

“It was another awful day in his life when the police visited his home.”

Recorder Featherby told Luckhurst: “Other than these offences you are a responsible person who has been involved in charitable works and fundraising.

“The financial impact on you and your family is considerable, running into the tens of thousands of pounds.

“These are multiple and repeated offences, but the Probation Service say you are at ‘low risk’ of re-offending.”