A former Plymouth-based criminal defence solicitor will stand trial at Winchester Crown Court next month, where he will face a total of 21 charges, including rape and sexual assaults on a number of alleged victims over a 27-year period.

Alan Harris, now aged 71 and from Thorn Park in Plymouth, appeared briefly at Bristol Crown Court in October 2024 where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He had previously been summonsed to Plymouth Magistrates' Court to appear but the venue was changed to Bristol Magistrates' Court.

Harris was a well-known Plymouth defence solicitor who represented a large number of defendants when he practised law at his firm, which was based at short distance from Plymouth Magistrates' Court in St Andrews Street.

The charges relate to incidents reported to have ta

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