A kidnapper who sexually assaulted two teenage girls over 20 years ago was told by a judge on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, that he faces a long prison sentence.
Alec Housden, now 60, admitted snatching a 16-year-old off Piggottshill Lane, Harpenden on Sunday, April 7, 2002.
He had also pleaded guilty to kidnapping and indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl at the same location on Wednesday, June 19, 2002.
Housden from Kingsbury Gardens, Dunstable, was due to go on trial at St Albans Crown Court on a charge of kidnapping a 12-year-girl in the same area, two years later, on Wednesday, March 17, 2004.
That girl had been grabbed in Greenway Harpenden, at ten to six in the evening on March, 17, 2004. Her attacker fled when she called to a dog walker for help.
The judge ruled that the prosecution could not tell a jury that Housden admitted the 2002 offences because that would simply bolster a weak case in which the eyewitnesses said the kidnapper was in his 20s, and not in his 40s, as Housden would have been.
Prosecutor Nic Lobbenburg KC had wanted to tell a jury that Housden had accessed porn sites where adult women dressed as schoolgirls. He also wanted bring in evidence from two former partners of Housden who said he had a sexual interest in schoolgirls.
After the judge’s ruling Mr Lobbenburg offered no evidence on the case of the 12-year-old girl and a not guilty verdict was entered.
The first victim was aged 16 and walking home from school at half past five on April 17, 2002 when she noticed a silver car, possibly an Astra, on the street ahead of her.
A few minutes later Housden, then in his late 30s, grabbed her from behind. A hand was put over her mouth and she was dragged to a wooded area. Housden sat astride the teenager, removed her top and bra, kissed her breasts and masturbated into his hand.
After he left she was found by a jogger and taken to a nearby house, where the police were called. A DNA swab from her bra has now linked the crime to Housden.
On June 19, 2002, two months later. a 17-year-old girl was in the same street when Housden jogged by. He grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth.
The teenage was placed in the passenger seat of his car and driven to the bottom of the road. Housden took her to a wooded area and told her to shut up and be quiet. He removed her top and bra and kissed and licked her breasts.
He promised not to rape her before stripping and putting her hand on his penis. He put his penis in her mouth before he masturbated onto her and her clothing.
Housden told her he had kept his promise not to rape her. Nowadays forcing a victim to have oral sex is considered rape.
Defending Sean Minihan asked for a psychiatric report to be prepared on Housden.
Judge Michael Roques remanded him in custody for sentence December 18, 2023 and also asked for a probation officer to prepare a report on the danger Housden posted. He told him: “You face a custodial sentence of some significant length.”
Bedford Borough Bulletin – current edition
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