A woman who was sexually assaulted by a predatory solicitor who abused vulnerable clients over almost three decades has told of her brave battle to bring him to justice.
Becky Humphrey, 37, was abused by Alan Harris in a court building and a police station – as the formerly respected lawyer used his power to target multiple victims.
The 72-year-old’s actions were first brought to light when Ms Humphrey, of Plymouth, Devon, gave a statement detailing his attacks in 2015.
Her allegations sparked a major probe which uncovered six other victims – all male – dating back to the 1980s.
Harris was jailed for 13 years earlier in February for his abuse of vulnerable people as young as 14.
The court heard he targeted victims with complex backgrounds who were ‘desperately’ dependent on his legal help.
Ms Humphrey, who has waived her right to anonymity, told how she was sexually assaulted by Harris during two incidents while he was meant to be representing her in court for a driving charge.
She had to wait more than ten years for him to be convicted and sentenced, but said the result has left her feeling ‘vindicated’.
Becky Humphrey, 37, was abused by predatory solicitor Alan Harris in a court building and a police station
She said: ‘People in power or that have authority are not above the law and if they do wrong and people speak up they can be prosecuted and you might get justice.
‘He was the system so the system was designed to protect him. He was a powerful man and I just think people turned a blind eye to his behaviour for a long time.
‘Many of his victims were abused by him a long long time ago and never spoke up at the time. But more victims need to speak up and not be worried they won’t be believed.’
Harris’ campaign of abuse spanned from 1988 until 2015 and at court in December he was convicted of ten sexual offences against seven people.
Ms Humphrey was assaulted twice by Harris in January and March 2015.
At the time, she had just moved to Plymouth and was on probation after being arrested for a driving offence.
She recalled: ‘Alan was my duty solicitor and [I] did not know anyone else so I just went for first name on the top of the list the police gave me.
‘I first met him when I was being taken over to Plymouth Magistrates’ [Court] from the police station and was in the cells to go up to court.
‘When I walked in he looked at me. I didn’t have a bra on as I had just been given prison issue stuff and was dressed in a grey track suit. He just said “you look very relaxed” and was looking up from my hips to my boobs.
‘He came over and put his hand on my shoulder. He put his hands on me and made me feel very uncomfortable although he did not do anything else at that time.
‘I got called up to court, got a fine and left.’
Ms Humphrey said she got arrested for a second time a few months later and explicitly said she did not want Harris to represent her, but he overruled her decision.
Alan Harris, 72, was convicted of ten sexual offences against seven victims in December and sentenced to 13 years in jail
She said: ‘I just wanted to get in and out of court. After I had to speak to him as my solicitor so we went into one room and he did not talk about the case at all.
‘He asked if I was a “working girl” and if I was in a relationship. He then put his hands on my hips and slid his hands down and groped my breasts.’
Ms Humphrey said she told Harris she was not interested, only for him to lead her to an empty room and further assault her.
‘I only thought at the time I was following my solicitor as I had to to discuss my case. I did not know where he was taking me.
‘I sat on the table just inside the door and he stood right in front of me and kissed my lips but I pushed him away. He put his hand down the front of my jeans and tried [to grope me] and I pushed him away.’
Ms Humphrey added she realised after CCTV footage was shown in court that the ordeal lasted just 20 seconds before she fled as fast as she could.
‘Time went very slowly in my mind as I think I just froze,’ she added.
The week after the incident she met her probation officer and told them what happened, prompting a police investigation and her video statement.
A month later she was told he had been arrested but there was not enough evidence at that time to charge him so he was released.
But officers did not give up on the case and launched a wide-ranging investigation to uncover further victims.
She added: ‘The police then came back to me in November 2024 – nearly ten years later – and asked if they could use my video statement.
‘It turns out that because of my report they had been doing an undercover investigation and had found loads of other victims and got all the evidence.
‘They told me my video statement had started this off. I was the only female – all the rest were young boys.
‘To start with there 13 alleged victims, one dropped out and one sadly died. There were six [others] that managed to make it through to the court case.’
Ms Humphrey came face to face with Harris for the first time since his assault while giving evidence during the trial at Winchester Crown Court.
Ms Humphrey (pictured in 2013) first gave a statement to police in 2015, but it wasn’t until ten years later that Harris was finally brought to court
Describing the ordeal, she said: ‘I was there to tell my truth – not just for myself but for every other victim who did not have the strength to come forward or it was deemed there was not enough evidence.
‘I was stood strong as I was standing there for myself and every other person who has been through what I did.
‘It was hard but I knew I had to stand my ground. I knew he was guilty so was very relieved that they had got [him]. It felt like vindication.’
‘I feel nothing towards him now and don’t think about him.’
She added: ‘It has been ten years but it still affects me greatly. I see certain things on telly, hear and smell certain things and it takes me back to it.
‘I am usually a strong woman but it still really impacts me.
‘When they told me they couldn’t charge him initially I felt let down. I just thought I was never going to prove it and it felt like they were protecting him.
‘I was very vulnerable and he just thought he had the right to do what he wanted and was too powerful to be stopped.
‘I was very confused, angry and disgusted that he was able to do it to me. Even though I didn’t allow it he did manage to do it.
‘I felt both very angry and very dirty. But I had to do something because of the way he made me feel. I was worried I was not strong enough and that I wouldn’t be believed.
‘I am just a single person, how can I go against a solicitor doing what he has done and get a charge? Thankfully the police believed me and now other people have also got justice as a result.
‘It breaks my heart that victims don’t report what happened over a fear they won’t be believed.’
Ms Humphrey is now working part time and is rebuilding her life.
She added: ‘I am doing really well now and it is a big contrast to how I was ten years ago.
‘I still have trust issues but I hope this will bring some closure. I want people in authority who have power to know they will not get away with it and anyone can speak up.
‘Even if it doesn’t result in the justice they deserve it will help instead of bottling it up inside.
‘Now I can breathe knowing I won’t see him around the streets of Plymouth and knowing he won’t do what he did to anyone else.
‘He will become a vulnerable person now in prison. I hope his time inside is nothing less than hell. He deserves nothing more than that.’
The trial heard he arrogantly preyed on his victims during private consultations and made them believe that they were powerless to speak out – and that no-one would believe them if they did.
Harris spent his working life as a criminal defence solicitor in Plymouth before he retired in 2016.
The majority of the offences took place within the cells at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court and in Charles Cross Police Station’s custody suite.
Others happened at private homes and in Harris’ car.
Her Honour Judge Angela Morris told him as he was jailed: ‘There is no greater fall from grace than this.’
