Climbing instructor jailed for child sex abuse

A climbing instructor who sexually abused children during lessons has been jailed.

Alan Ellinson, 68, exposed himself and asked his students to reach into his tro pocket for sweets, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The offences against four children, aged between 10 and 14, took place between 2013 and 2015 when Ellinson owned and worked at his family-run climbing instructing business in Stockport.

Ellinson, of Poynton, Cheshire, denied indecent exposure and inciting sexual activity with children but was found guilty and given a five-year sentence.

The mother of one of Ellinson's victims reported him to the NSPCC after her daughter revealed what had happened.

The charity informed police and he was arrested in 2021.

GMP said Ellinson had worked at the business in Marple from 1993 to 2023, when it shut down.

He taught junior sessions in climbing with groups of children from six to 14 years of age.

The force said: "He would keep sweets in his pockets and ask the children to reach into his pockets to get one."

Some children also noticed he exposed himself over the top of his tros.

During his police interview Ellinson "came across as obnoxious and arrogant", GMP said.

He also spoke of how he "hated his job" and called the children he taught to climb "vindictive and feral".

Det Con Lucy Williams thanked "the brave victims of these abhorrent crimes for coming forward".

She said Ellinson was a "trusted" instructor who "abused his position of trust" and "is now where he belongs, in jail".

Ellinson was found guilty at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court of three counts of indecent exposure and four counts of inciting a child under the age of 13 in sexual activity.

He was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and placed on the Sex Offenders for life.

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