Gerald Frederick Allaire, formerly of Clayton-le-Moors in Lancashire, was jailed for five years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a young boy in the 1990s. The offences occurred while Allaire was recovering from a serious motorbike accident, during which he was mentally and physically convalescing and socially isolated.
The case came to light in late 2016 when the victim, now an adult living in Hyndburn, was persuaded by a friend to report the historic abuse to Lancashire Police. Detective Constable Tony Roberts led the investigation, which resulted in Allaire's trial at Preston Crown Court. After a four-day trial, the jury convicted the 45-year-old haulage businessman of two counts of indecent assault. Susan Carter, prosecuting, informed the court that Allaire maintained his denial even in the pre-sentence report.
Sentencing took place at Carlisle Crown Court, where Judge James Adkin described Allaire as having a 'sexual interest in children' but did not classify him as a 'dangerous offender'. Allaire, now residing in Liverpool, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, received a sexual harm prevention order, and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. The judge highlighted the lasting impact of such abuse, stating: 'If ever there was a case to demonstrate that abuse of small vulnerable children for sexual purposes continues to resonate over the years, even when those individuals are grown into adulthood, this case demonstrates that feature.'
The victim delivered a poignant impact statement during the hearing, expressing the profound psychological harm inflicted. He said: 'I don’t feel there’s any light at the end of the tunnel. I felt I was carrying a dirty secret around in my mind. I was embarrassed to tell anybody.' Speaking to the Accrington Observer after the sentencing, the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, slammed Allaire as a 'vile, disgusting human being' and stated: 'I’ve had this demon inside of me for years and now finally can talk about it. The sentence will never be long enough. I just want to try and move on. He deserves what he gets and more and he needs his name shaming.' He also recounted the emotional toll of giving evidence, saying: 'When he was found guilty I just broke down... I was just so glad and relieved that it was all worth it.'
Allaire had a prior conviction in 2008 for possessing indecent images of children, for which he served time in prison. Following his release, he established a successful haulage business, but this conviction ended that chapter of his life. Simon Mintz, defending, acknowledged the 'significant psychological harm' to the victim but argued it was not severe enough for the top sentencing category. He noted Allaire's youth and isolation at the time of the offences, suggesting: 'It may be that had he enjoyed a more social life these most unfortunate offences might never have been committed.' Detective Constable Roberts praised the outcome, saying: 'It’s a good result and I’m happy with it. This case shows that we will investigate historic offences of sexual abuse and I would encourage any other victims to come forward. Despite not being given the dangerous person title [by the judge] Allaire is someone who has an unhealthy interest in young boys.'
The article, published by Lancs Live on 13 February 2018, underscores the long-term effects of child sexual abuse and the importance of reporting such crimes, no matter how much time has passed.