Alan Blacklock – Workington/Great Clifton

September 2003

Child rapist returns to Cumbria

CONCERNED residents have spoken of their fears after a convicted child rapist returned to West Cumbria, having been released from jail for raping a schoolgirl.

Alan Blacklock, 67, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison in April 1999 after admitting raping a girl in the back of his car.

He also pleaded guilty to a further five sex offences with another girl, dating back to March 1997.

Blacklock, formerly of Cusack Crescent, Workington, was released on Monday after serving more than four years behind bars. He is believed to have moved to be near family in nearby Great Clifton.

The judge ordered him to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the rest of his life.

Villagers from Great Clifton, who are too frightened to have their names printed for fear of reprisals, have been sharing their concerns since the beginning of the week.

One said: “There are kids around in Great Clifton and this man is a rapist. We are not happy about it.”

Today Cumbria police moved to allay any fears in the village.

A spokesman said: “While we will not comment on any individual case, where someone has been sentenced for a serious sexual offence they will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and through this we have got rigorous procedures in place working with other agencies to assess and monitor the behaviour of the individual, which ensures public protection is paramount.”

Alan Blacklock had five grown up children. One, Joseph, was also convicted of rape and later died in Durham prison in September 1999 while on the same wing as his father.