Sex offender sentenced after survivor recognises him in media article

A sex offender has been further sentenced after another survivor came forward when he recognised him on an online article. 

Allan Richards, 63, of no fixed address, is currently serving a 22-year jail term after he was previously convicted of 40 offences at Birmingham Crown Court in 2016.

When the survivor saw the case in the media, he recognised Richards as the man who sexually abused him when he was younger. He reported this to us in 2022, prompting a further investigation into Richards’ offending.

The abuse happened in Rugeley in the 90s. Richards was a serving police officer with West Midlands Police at the time.

After being interviewed in relation to the offences, we secured the evidence needed to charge Richards with two counts of indecent assault on a boy and one count of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency.

Richards denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury at an earlier trial at Stafford Crown Court in August this year. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 5 September. His sentence will run consecutive to the sentence he is already serving.

Detective Sergeant Gemma Szalapski, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said: “Richards, despite already serving a lengthy sentence for an array of historic crimes, has been rightfully brought to justice for the abuse he has subjected yet another victim to.

“I want this to serve as an example to any survivors of sexual offences that we are absolutely determined to act against those responsible and to support you as much as possible. It doesn’t matter how recent or long ago it might have happened, what matters is that we’re able to speak to you and investigate reports as robustly as possible.”

If you are a survivor and you want to talk to us, call 101 or use Live Chat on our website.