Confession to partner over walkway assaults

5:03am Saturday 10th May 2008

A STALKER convicted of a series of sex attacks along a countryside walkway, despite his continued denials, has made a behind-bars confession.

Alan Ginnever admitted being responsible for some of the assaults when confronted by his girlfriend during a prison visit.

It is understood that Christy Kent told Ginnever she would have convicted him of the final two attacks after sitting through the summing-up at the end of his trial.

Ginnever gave up his sordid secrets and told Miss Kent - the mother of his child - that he had flashed at a dog-walker and pulled down the trousers of a schoolgirl.

The self-employed plasterer has not owned up to the other incidents on or near the Castle Eden Walkway - a disused railway line between Stockton and Wynyard.

It is understood that Miss Kent, a teacher in Darlington, gave a statement to Cleveland Police after 40-year-old Ginnever's confession in Holme House Prison.

The attacks Ginnever still denies date back to the summer of 2005 when he ripped the bikini top off a schoolgirl on the walkway.

The following year, in the same area, he stopped two girls who were cycling, groped the ten-year-old and exposed himself to her nine-year-old friend.

In August 2006, Ginnever approached a 12-year-old and a ten-year-old near Billingham Beck, touched the breasts of the older girl and flashed at her friend.

On March 12 last year, he made a lewd suggestion and exposed himself to a 35-year-old woman walking her dogs near Letch Lane, Stockton.

Only five weeks later, a 15-year-old girl, who was in Wynyard Woodland Park with her toddler cousin and brother, had her trousers pulled down by Ginnever.

Following the final attack, detectives were so worried about the offender's escalating behaviour they issued an appeal. A number of witnesses came forward with crucial information, which led to his conviction.

A source told The Northern Echo yesterday: "When Ginnever was visited in prison, his partner more or less said the evidence against him for the last two attacks was overwhelming.

"Despite his repeated denials to the police and then during his trial - in which he forced his victims to come to court to give evidence - he admitted being responsible.

"The jury convicted him of all seven offences, but he seems to only want to confess to the ones his partner said she believed."

Ginnever faced a trial at Teesside Crown Court on four allegations of sexual assault and three of exposure, and told the jury he had no idea why he was being blamed.

He claimed he was the world's most unlucky man after six witnesses picked him out in identification parades, and his car was seen near some of the incidents.

Cleveland Police said: "We would never comment on any information or statements that are given to us in confidence."

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