Latest news with #Eccles
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots lawyer charged with child abuse appeared on TV as 'legal expert'
Attendees only discovered his conviction via an internet search after he became embroiled in a heated debate with Mike Pilbeam, a former McClure's client and lead campaigner on the issue. A paedophile lawyer appeared on TV as a legal 'expert' despite being charged with child abuse. Alan Eccles was handed 300 hours of community service after he admitted taking part in sick conversations about child sex abuse online and sharing images of youngsters. But despite having already appeared in court charged with the offences, Eccles, 44, appeared on a TV programme in April about a Scottish law firm's closure as an 'expert in setting up trusts'. And even days after his guilty plea, brazen Eccles attended a community meeting about the collapse of McClure solicitors with former clients and MPs. Attendees only discovered his conviction via an internet search after he became embroiled in a heated debate with Mike Pilbeam, a former McClure's client and lead campaigner on the issue, who had set up the meeting to help those affected. Pilbeam said: 'There were a number of individuals who had used Alan Eccles at the meeting and had a degree of sympathy with him over the altercation. 'But when one member Googled him the following day and saw the report about the charges he had faced and his guilty plea, that sympathy disappeared.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Thousands of people say they had family trusts which they didn't know about and have had to pay extortionate fees to wrestle ownership of their homes from McClure's trustees. On the programme, which aired on April 4, Eccles spoke extensively about how he had helped dozens of former clients of McClure solicitors, which shut down in 2021. The community meeting took place on May 9 in the south side of Glasgow. The Sunday Mail previously revealed Eccles worked for the Scottish Youth Parliament during a time when the organisation was accused of mishandling complaints about child sexual harassment. SYP said he had no involvement in the probe into handling of complaints.
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Disgraced Scots lawyer rubbed shoulders with MPs despite being unmasked as paedophile
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DISGRACED lawyer rubbed shoulders with MPs at a key meeting — despite being unmasked as a paedophile. Alan Eccles, 44, met with clients affected by a legal firm's collapse just three days after he pled guilty in court to child sex offences. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alan Eccles shared child sex abuse images and chatted online with other beasts Credit: Law Society of Scotland 2 Sex offender Eccles at front of public meeting with MP Mr Stainbank on left Credit: Supplied But he kept his conviction from the Victims of McClure Action Group, as well as MPs John Grady, Susan Murray and Euan Stainbank. There is no suggestion any of the MPs were aware of Eccles' court case when they went to Titwood Bowling Club in Pollokshields, Glasgow, on May 9. The Scottish Sun had told on May 6 how the pervert admitted admitted to sharing indecent pics of kids and a woman plus engaging in obscene chats about the sexual abuse of children. Incredibly, he was spared jail when sentenced this month. The predator worked with Glasgow law firm Jones Whyte, which took over the files of McClure Solicitors after it went under in 2021. Many of their customers claim they were mis-sold trusts meant to simplify inheritance. Dominic Grech, of the Victims of McClure Action Group, said: 'Eccles didn't say at the meeting that he had already pled guilty to these offences. 'Any ordinary person would have received a jail sentence. It is again indicative of the legal profession and criminal justice system looking after their own. 'Allan Eccles represents everything that is wrong with how certain elements of the legal profession perceive the public. 'Like McClure's, they think they are untouchable and to an extent they are, because no one in authority will challenge them and hold them to account.' Case against Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann 'may be tainted' by disgraced cop's arrest, says John Wayne Gacy's lawyer Labour's Mr Stainbank and Mr Grady plus Lib Dem Ms Murray had attended on behalf of affected constituents. Another four MPs sent representatives. Eccles previously claimed he had helped in more than 100 McClure clients' cases. He said the volume of customers the company had dealt with was 'unmanageable'. But he insisted McClures had been doing nothing 'unlawful'. The sicko, of Bearsden, near Glasgow, returned to Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing on June 2. Law chief Bruce Erroch told him: 'Your behaviour was despicable.' But he sentenced him to 300 hours of unpaid work, and an eight-month tag. Eccles was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years. He is still registered as a solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland website. Ms Murray said: 'I was not aware of Mr Eccles, his conviction or his past.' A Scottish Labour spokesman said: 'Mr Grady and Mr Stainbank went to the public meeting at the invitation of the Victims of McClure group. MPs from all parties were invited. Neither has any relationship with Eccles.'
Daily Record
08-06-2025
- Daily Record
Paedo lawyer worked at charity accused of ignoring child sex harassment claims
The Scots lawyer also ran a rugby club near Glasgow. A paedophile lawyer worked for a Government-backed youth charity embroiled in accusations it failed to handle claims of child sexual harassment. Alan Eccles, from Giffnock near Glasgow, was spared jail after pleading guilty to three charges and sentenced to 300 hours of community service at Paisley Sheriff Court last week. He admitted to engaging in grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing conversations about the sexual abuse of children, sharing indecent photos of children and an intimate picture of a woman between October 22 and November 14, 2023. The Sunday Mail can reveal Eccles, 44, worked for the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) as a legal adviser for several years until at least late 2023. The SYP has come under fire for failing to handle previous allegations of sexual harassment by its young members. After allegations about a former SYP chief were published by the Sunday Mail in 2022, the organisation vowed to carry out a policy review to ensure it had acted properly on the claims. The review was done while Eccles was working for it but a spokesman insisted he played no part in the review. Eccles, who was a partner at law firm Brodies until 2020, was also the director of the Glasgow Hutchesons' Aloysians Rugby Football Club (GHA RFC) until April this year, resigning just weeks before admitting to his vile child sex abuse crimes. During his time at the club he was involved in governance reviews for the organisation. A spokesman for the SYP said: 'Alan Eccles served as an external legal adviser to the SYP executive and board until late 2023. At no point did he interface with the broader SYP membership or any member data. 'While none of the charges relate to SYP, we have continually strengthened our safeguarding guidelines and procedures in line with evolving national child protection policies.' Eccles will be on the sex offenders' register for three years. He remains registered as a solicitor according to the Law Society of Scotland's website. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Top Scots lawyer dodges jail after being unmasked as evil child sex abuse predator
The sicko shared child sex abuse images and chatted online with other beasts about molesting kids 'DESPICABLE' Top Scots lawyer dodges jail after being unmasked as evil child sex abuse predator Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CHARITIES lawyer exposed by The Scottish Sun as a paedophile was spared jail. Alan Eccles, 43, was tagged for eight months and handed 300 hours of unpaid work as well as three years' supervision. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alan Eccles shared child sex abuse images and chatted online with other beasts Credit: Law Society of Scotland 2 The paedophile lawyer will be on the sex offenders register for three years Credit: Steve Welsh We told how the sicko shared child sex abuse images and chatted online with other beasts about molesting kids. Eccles, from Bearsden, near Glasgow, also shared an intimate pic of a woman between October and November 2023. His lawyer John Scullion KC told Paisley Sheriff Court: 'The offences took place when his mental health was bad. He accepts full responsibility.' Passing sentence, Sheriff Bruce Erroch told first offender Eccles: "You are a mature and plainly intelligent man who made a deliberate decision to act as you did. "You must have known the risks involved. Significant psychological harm was caused by your crimes. "Such crimes are not victimless crimes. I've considered the aggravating factors of all of your offences. "Your behaviour was, in short, despicable. You are a man of good nature who appears in the court without any criminal record and you have carried out good public service. "Taking all the relevant factors into account I intend to reduce the prison sentence to a high-level community payback order. Such measures will be put in places to protect the public." The perv will also be on the sex offenders register for three years. He is a specialist in third sector legal issues and has assisted a number of charities. Ringleaders in Scotland's biggets ever paedophle ring spotted out and about in Edinburgh After Eccles' vile crimes came to light, his profile was scrubbed from the Law Society of Scotland website. His account on business networking site LinkedIn was also removed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Urgent appeal issued to find missing man in Greater Manchester
People are being urged to look out for a missing Salford man who was last seen 36 hours ago. Greater Manchester Police says Colin was last seen on Grindle Green, in Eccles, at 8.20pm on Monday night (May 19). He was seen heading in the direction of Barton Road at the time. READ MORE: Former Manchester United player, 19, died after quitting football in 'sudden' mood change READ MORE: Family's double tragedy as second teenager killed five years after shooting Colin is described as being white, 5ft 10ins tall and of large build. Police say he has grey hair pushed back, which is longer at the back, and a grey beard. His surname and age have not been given by GMP. At the time of his disappearance, Colin was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt, grey shorts and black Crocs shoes. A photo of Colin has been issued this morning (Wednesday) alongside an urgent appeal for help finding him. Anyone who sees Colin or has information on his whereabouts is urged to come forward as soon as possible. A GMP Salford spokesperson said: "Officers want to find Colin, last seen in Eccles, to make sure he is safe and well - anyone with information should call us on 0161 856 9428 or 101." --- For the latest stories and breaking news visit Get the latest headlines, features and analysis that matter to you by signing up to our various Manchester Evening News newsletters here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to stay up to date with the latest. Follow us on X @mennewsdesk for all the latest stories and updates on breaking incidents from across the region and beyond, as well as on our Facebook page here. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our newsdesk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it.
