January 21st 2024.
In 1999, Alan Hopkinson committed a heinous crime that shocked the nation. He kidnapped two young girls from the streets of Hastings, East Sussex and brought them to his flat where he sexually abused them. As a result, he was given nine life sentences and has been in prison ever since. However, he recently made his 11th attempt at freedom, but was once again denied by officials who believe he still poses a danger to society.
Despite his claims of being a reformed man, a parole board summary revealed that Hopkinson's proposed release plan was not deemed strong enough to manage him in the community. The report stated that the controls in place would not be sufficient considering the severity of his crimes, his past offenses, and concerns about his willingness to cooperate with professionals. Ultimately, the panel decided that Hopkinson was not suitable for release and also recommended that he not be transferred to an open prison.
The kidnapping and abuse of the two girls, Charlene Lunnon and Lisa Hoodless, was not Hopkinson's first offense. In fact, he had previously been jailed for seven years in 1991 for kidnapping and assaulting an 11-year-old girl. Charlene, now 34, spoke out against Hopkinson's potential release, stating that he should never be allowed back into society. She and Lisa have bravely shared their story in a book, despite the trauma they endured.
When Hopkinson was caught on CCTV after the kidnapping, it was clear that he had carefully planned his crime. He had lured the girls into his car and kept them at his home until the police, who launched a massive manhunt, found them there. Thanks to the authorities' swift action, the girls were found alive but understandably distressed. They have since called Hopkinson a dangerous man, and rightfully so.
Despite serving 17 years (over his minimum sentence) in Full Sutton Prison in Yorkshire, Hopkinson is still considered a threat to the public. The judge who sentenced him made it clear that the court's priority is to protect young children, and Hopkinson's previous offense and possession of disturbing materials, such as DVDs featuring children, only solidify this concern. It is no wonder that he will not be allowed another hearing for at least two years.
Meanwhile, at Birmingham Crown Court, another serial predator, Anthony 'Danny' Burns, received a 24-year prison sentence for his despicable actions. Burns, a 39-year-old paedophile, used the internet to blackmail dozens of women and girls into performing degrading sexual acts. He would coerce them into sending explicit images or undressing on video calls, which he would secretly record. Then, he would threaten to share these images with their loved ones if they did not comply with his increasingly depraved demands. It is sickening to think that there are individuals like Hopkinson and Burns in the world, preying on the vulnerable and causing immeasurable harm. Thankfully, they have been brought to justice, and society is safer with them behind bars.
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