Merseyside Police are welcoming the sentencing of a 70-year-old man to 15 years, nine months for sexual offences at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday 19 March 2018.

Alan Joseph Hollis, last known address in Malaga, Spain, was arrested in 2017 on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) after being wanted for a number of years.

Today, he was sentenced to 15 years, nine months in prison for serious sexual assaults against a girl under 16 years (offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), which occurred in the 1970s on Merseyside and were reported to police in the mid-1990s.

Hollis was initially arrested in 1996 near to his then-home in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was bailed to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on the condition that he surrendered his passport and provided a surety but failed to appear and a second warrant was issued for his arrest.

Hollis was arrested in November 2007 at Gatwick Airport as he attempted to leave the country, but failed to appear in January 2008 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Following review and actions by a dedicated officer, extensive enquiries were carried out and established that Hollis had obtained a false passport and was residing in Spain. He was arrested by Spanish Policia Nacional in the Alhaurin el Grande area of Malaga on Thursday, 23 March. Hollis had been found to be living under a false identity when living in Malaga.

Detective Inspector Jacky Fitzpatrick from Merseyside Police Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit said: "The victim in this was extremely brave in coming forward and patient as the process has unfolded. A Specially trained officer from Merseyside Police Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit at St Anne Street Police Station has provided support to the Victim, to whom she has personally expressed her appreciation, and we hope that today’s sentence finally gives the victim some sense of justice.

"The victim in this matter has reinforced our support in providing reassurance to anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated.

"Time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice and as a force, we take every report of sexual offences extremely seriously, whether or not they are recent, and we will use all available powers across Europe and the world to find them.

"Hollis made devious and repeated attempts to escape justice, including obtaining a false passport, and working alongside the Spanish authorities, we were able to locate him and return him to face the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

"European Arrest Warrants are an important piece of partnership work which allow forces to collaborate internationally to return offenders to their country of origin and face justice.

"We have had some great successes over the years in using EAWs to locate and arrest serious and organised Merseyside criminals who have gone on the run, and Hollis can be added to this list. We will use all lawful powers to pursue wanted Merseyside criminals across Europe."

Anyone wishing to report a sexual offence can call the 101 number, or @MerPolCC. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Let’s see. He’s arrested in 1996 and then disappears failing to attend court in Liverpool.

He evades arrest till November 2007, they let him go to appear before court in January 2008 and he disappears again. Call me stupid, but which dick decided he wouldn’t abscond again.

Then they catch him again living in Spain some years later, not under his real name obviously.

I hate to think what all the cost and time spent from his original arrest in 1996 has been attributed to what amounts as duplicate work. Bl**dy shambles if you ask me.

Criminals cannot be trusted, when are the elite establishment who make the rules going to understand that.