"Predatory" Hair Stylist Finally Caged

Jailed: Luckhurst

An award-winning hair stylist, who felt he had “a licence” to molest two 17 year-old trainees, is finally behind bars after the Attorney General’s Office appealed his ‘unduly lenient’ suspended sentence.

Married father-of-two Alan Luckhurst, 37, groped the breasts and bums of the young women after taking them into a rear private area of his salons.

Luckhurst claimed he had “already been punished a great deal” after spending two years on police bail before being charged and enduring multiple trial postponements during lockdown and barristers strikes.

He 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.

On March 27, after fighting the case for years and forcing his young victims to give evidence before a jury, Luckhurst was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

However, that sentence by Recorder William Featherby KC, who noted Luckhurst was at “low risk” of re-offending, was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which imposed two years and six months immediate imprisonment.

Award Winner: Luckhurst & Mark Wright

The case had been reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme and Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP announced: “Luckhurst’s vile crimes are only exacerbated by the trust placed in him to look after young students on work experience.

“The severity of his appalling behaviour has now been recognised by the courts and he will spend time in prison for crimes that have left a devastating impact on his victims.”

The Metropolitan Police even urged other potential victims to come forward after the hairdresser was originally sentenced.

Detective Constable Natalie Alchin said at the time: “Luckhurst completely abused his position as manager of these young women and took advantage of being alone with them during their time at work.

“It is clear that the offences he committed have had a serious and significant impact on both their personal and professional lives.

“We believe there may be other young women who may have worked with Luckhurst and been victim to his predatory behaviour.

“We would urge anyone who believes that to be the case to come forward and speak to us.”

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 industry award ceremonies.

When he was originally sentenced last March Recorder Featherby told heavily-tattooed Luckhurst: “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.

“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, 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.

The original sentence also included an 18-month Community Order; to 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.

“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 in March: “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.”

Four Men Accused Of Diverting Pet Food Meat To Public:

Anthony Fear (L) & Mark Hooper (R)

Cheap waste meat destined for pet food was deliberately diverted for human consumption by four businessmen, whose plot was “motivated by massive profits,” a trial heard.

The ‘low risk’ animal parts, which typically sold for £100-£120 per ton immediately became much more valuable when sold as food to the public, Inner London Crown Court was told.

A visit by Southwark Council’s Food Safety Team on an unhygienic, secret, illegal “cutting room”, where 1.9 tons of meat and poultry were seized, uncovered the scam, the jury heard.

Four men and one company are charged with conspiracy to defraud by diverting animal by-product, which was unfit for human consumption, into the food chain between June 1 and September 22, 2020.

They are Anthony Fear, 61, of Somerset Bridge, Hamp Bridge, Bridgwater, Somerset and his company Fear Animal Products Ltd.

Fear Animal Products Ltd. manager Mark Hooper, 62, of Somerset Bridge, Hamp Bridge, Bridgwater.

Ali Afzal, 44, of East Street, Walworth.

Ali Afzal (L) & Azar Irshad (R)

Azar Irshad, 37, of High Road, Ilford.

Afzal and Irshad alone are jointly charged with seven counts of failing to comply with food regulations and individually each face one count of failing to comply with the regulations.

Prosecutor Ryan Thompson said: “This is a case of food fraud. 

“These defendants conspired together to defraud by taking meat and poultry animal by-product that was unfit for human consumption and diverting it into the food chain and were motivated by massive profits.”

The case involves animal parts deemed ‘low risk’ yet still unfit for people to consume, the jury heard.

“This is frequently used for pet food and has a low value,” said the prosecutor.

Council officers visited the Walworth premises, which were only accessible via a secure gated narrow walkway to the rear and another business to the front, on September 22, 2020.

Among the meat seized were 160 kilos of lamb testes and the labels on the by-product led investigators to Fear and Hooper.

Both are involved in running Fear Animal Products Ltd. said Mr. Thompson. “The company collects animal by-product and transports it to another company, a pet food manufacturer.”

The prosecution say Afzal and Irshal were responsible for the Walworth premises, which were unclean, lacked facilities such as hot water and had illegal food stock that should not be sold to the public.

The court heard Southwark Council were tipped-off by the National Food Crime Unit in March, 2020 about the selling of illegal meat, but an inspector could not access the cutting room premises.

“Via a flat roof he saw this premises and took a photo of it and noticed a foul odour of rotting meat coming from the ventilation fan,” explained Mr Thompson.

Southwark Council returned on September 22, gaining access via a blocked door from another business and found two workers inside.

“There was a large quantity of raw poultry being cut up, skinned and washed and lemon juice was used to try and clean the chicken and there was a water hosepipe.

“The condition of the premises was extremely poor. There was no hot water for hand-washing, just a hose and there was chipped and missing paint on the walls.”

In a large chiller was found 160 kilos of lamb testes, two kilos of beef burgers and in a black bin liner illegal sheep’s heads along with cows feet and tongues.

The jury were told labels on the by-products led them to companies in Wales and Cornwall, from which Fear Animal Products Ltd. collected the ‘low risk’ meat.

Fear Animal Products Ltd. was responsible for transporting tons of the meat to Doncaster, where it became pet food, but instead it ended up in a secret Walworth cutting room, destined for human consumption, the jury heard.

Trial continues…………..

Late Queen's Ex-Verger Gets 16 Years For Molesting Boys

The late Queen’s former verger, who molested one Southwark Cathedral chorister and another boarding school boy, was jailed for 16 years yesterday. 

Clive McCleester, 77, once served at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel and oversaw visitors to the Queen Mother’s tomb and helped organise royal funerals. 

He was described as: “Satan in disguise,” by the sister of the first victim as she held her late brother’s ashes in her hand at Inner London Crown Court.

McCleester, who lived in the Grade I-listed Hospital of St. Cross almshouse in St. Cross Road, Winchester will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life and be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Appearing in custody via video link he was told by Judge Jane Rowley: “At the time of the offending you were the Head Verger at Southwark Cathedral and later the Head Verger at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

“Those were great roles roles within the hierarchy and trust within the Church of England and you took advantage of your position to take sexual advantage of these complaints due to their young ages.” 

McCleester pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting a now-deceased victim on up to 100 occasions between January 1, 1968 and December 18, 1970.

Those counts reflect his time employed as a child welfare officer at Tylney Hall School, Hampshire between 1960 and 1971 before moving on to work at a children’s home.

McCleester lived at the boarding school in his own private residence, with a particular role in looking after the 14 year-old victim after the death of the boy’s grandmother.

After a life of drink and drug abuse to blank-out the memories of McCleester, the victim suffered a massive panic attack when police told him they were investigating the defendant and he suffered a fatal heart attack in August, 2020.

McCleester pleaded guilty to four counts of indecently assaulting the Southwark Cathedral victim between July 28, 1986 and July 27, 1987 and three counts of indecency with a child between the same dates.

This victim was a 13 year-old Southwark Cathedral choirboy, abused at McCleester’s flat within the vicarage.

In his child welfare role McCleester had particular responsibility for the now-deceased victim, but the sexual abuse began on the same day as the funeral of the young boy’s grandmother.

“He took the boy for a walk in the wooded area of the school grounds,” said prosecutor Catherine Donnelly.

There, intimate sexual abuse occurred, continuing in the defendant’s room, where he would strip the boy and molest him - also striking during bath time - two or three times a week.

In a victim impact statement the dead victim’s sister told the court: “He is Satan in disguise and deserves to go to hell. We hope he gets a long jail sentence and rots in jail. For me this man is pure evil.”

The Southwark Cathedral choirboy was invited by McCleester to his accommodation with the promise of Chinese takeaways, plied with wine and sexually abused.

He was also stripped naked and intimately molested by McCleester, who took him to a gay shop and bought him black leather underwear and a skin-tight fishnet vest.

As an adult he even helped McCleester beat a similar charge in 2003, giving evidence at Inner London Crown Court, where the defendant was cleared of abusing another Southwark Cathedral choirboy.

Now 48 years-old the victim told the court in his impact statement: “He fully exploited me for his sexual gratification. He has got away with his vile acts his whole life.”

“The first victim was sexually assaulted by you when he was boarding at Tylney Hall School and you were a child welfare supervisor at the school,” said Judge Rowley.

“He was extremely vulnerable young man and you were assigned to look after him and were tactile and caring towards him, which was all part of the grooming process that led to sexual abuse.

“He said you would take every possible opportunity to sexually assault him.”

Talking to the surviving victim and families of both the judge added: “You have waited patiently for justice to be done as a result of the horrendous acts carried out by the defendant. over many occasions over many years.

“Nobody could have been left untouched by the damage and hurt we have heard this defendant caused and the sad end of the first complainant’s life and the stress and damage he suffered as a result of these horrendous sex acts.”

The judge told McCleester: “The delay has allowed you to live your life in freedom and have enjoyed many years of a successful life, including at St. George’s Chapel, but your victims have not been that lucky.

“You occupied positions of great responsibility at the school and church. These were sustained and systematic abuses for your sole sexual gratification and you gave no thought for the consequences of your victims.”

Late Queen's Former Verger: "Satan In Disguise"

The late Queen’s former verger, who molested one Southwark Cathedral chorister and another boy at a boarding school, has been described in court as “Satan in disguise.”

Clive McCleester, 77, once served at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel and oversaw visitors to the Queen Mother’s tomb and helped organise royal funerals. 

McCleester, who lives in the Grade I-listed Hospital of St. Cross almshouse in St. Cross Road, Winchester was remanded in custody to be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court.

“It is my responsibility to pass a significant sentence of imprisonment on you,” Judge Jane Rowley told him. “I need to reflect on the harrowing evidence I have heard.”

The surviving victim and relatives of the deceased complainant packed the courtroom during an emotionally-charged hearing in which live impact statements were read out.

McCleester pleaded guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting a now-deceased victim on up to 100 occasions between January 1, 1968 and December 18, 1970.

Those counts reflect his time employed as a child welfare officer at Tylney Hall School, Hampshire between 1960 and 1971 before moving on to work at a children’s home.

McCleester lived at the boarding school in his own private residence, with a particular role in looking after the 13 year-old victim after the death of the boy’s grandmother.

After a life of drink and drug abuse to blank-out the memories of McCleester, the victim suffered a massive panic attack when police told him they were investigating the defendant and he suffered a fatal heart attack in August, 2020.

McCleester pleaded guilty to four counts of indecently assaulting the Southwark Cathedral victim between July 28, 1986 and July 27, 1987 and three counts of indecency with a child between the same dates.

This victim was a 13 year-old Southwark Cathedral choirboy, abused at McCleester’s flat within the vicarage.

Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly told the court: “ Both complainants were sexually abused when they were young boys. Over the years he took advantage of his role to sexually abuse young boys.”

In his child welfare role McCleester had particular responsibility for the now-deceased victim, but the sexual abuse began on the same day as the funeral of the young boy’s grandmother.

“He took the boy for a walk in the wooded area of the school grounds.”

There, intimate sexual abuse occurred, continuing in the defendant’s room, where he would strip the boy and molest him - also striking during bath time - two or three times a week.

In a victim impact statement the dead victim’s sister told the court: “He is Satan in disguise and deserves to go to hell. We hope he gets a long jail sentence and rots in jail. For me this man is pure evil.”

The Southwark Cathedral choirboy was invited by McCleester to his accommodation with the promise of Chinese takeaways, plied with wine and sexually abused.

He was also stripped naked and intimately molested by McCleester, who took him to a gay shop and bought him black leather underwear and a skin-tight fishnet vest.

As an adult he even helped McCleester beat a similar charge in 2003, giving evidence at Inner London Crown Court, where the defendant was cleared of abusing another Southwark Cathedral choirboy.

Now 48 years-old the victim told the court in his impact statement: “He fully exploited me for his sexual gratification. He has got away with his vile acts his whole life.”

Father Reg Trial: Priest Found Guilty

Guilty: Father Reg

A Roman Catholic priest, who fondled a 17 year-old boy flutist between the legs after treating him to a Wembley Arena opera three decades ago, has finally been convicted.

Father Reginald Dunkling, 63, allowed the teenager - who played flute in a church band - to sleepover at Our Lady of Muswell in north London.

Wood Green Crown Court heard that during the night he lay on the bedroom floor and forced his hand under the covers, molesting the boy over his boxer shorts.

Dunkling - known as Father Reg - of Chequers End, Gadsden Row, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire was found guilty of one count of indecently assaulting the boy on a day between April 1992 and April 1993.

After six hours of deliberation following three days of evidence the remaining eleven jurors convicted him by a majority of 10-1.

“There will need to be a pre-sentence report and I agree it was an abuse of trust,” announced Judge Rachael Harrison.

“I am making no promises about what the sentence will be. The starting point is twenty-six weeks custody on the current guidelines.”

Father Dunkling’s lawyer Tanya Panagiotopoulou said: “There will also have to be medical reports. There are complex medical issues as he is awaiting surgery for bowel cancer and amputation of his foot.”

Bailing the priest until October 13 the judge told him: “I appreciate this procedure has been difficult for you and you said you didn’t do this, but the jury have said that you did.”