Locations
Worcester Park, south-west London, KT4
Description
Alan Luckhurst groped two 17-year-old students that were working with him in hair salons.
A “predatory” hairdresser that sexually assaulted two teenagers working in his salon has not been sent to jail. Alan Luckhurst, who is an award-winning hairstylist, assaulted two 17-year-old girls in two separate salons in Twickenham in 2017 and Sutton in 2021.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the father-of-two had been charged and bailed for the initial groping, before the second occurred.
Luckhurst may have other victims, the Met has said. The force is now appealing for them to come forward.
Married man Luckhurst told Kingston Crown Court he was “just a tactile person”.
However last Monday he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
A 17-year-old girl told authorities about the sexual assault which took place when she was on a placement at the Twickenham hairdressers.
Luckhurst was removed from the establishment following his arrest. Having been charged in October 2019, he then founded a new business in Sutton in Greater London.
Two years after that another 17-year-old girl went to police and said he’d sexually assaulted her when she was an apprentice in the salon.
The teenager said she was touched by Luckhurst within a matter of weeks of starting at the business.
He felt the breasts of the first victim repeatedly and also put his hand between her legs.
Luckhurst also put his groin against her bottom.
The second victim also had her breasts groped by Luckhurst, who made her touch him between his legs.
With the exception of one incident where he forced his hand under the second victim’s bra, all of his offences involved groping over the girls’ clothing.
Following a trial in January, Luckhurst was found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
Additionally, the hairdresser of Worcester Park, south-west London, received a sexual harm prevention order preventing him from employing anyone under 18 or acting as their boss.
The sex offender won ‘Retailer of the Year’ in 2013 while manager of a salon in Richmond, in the south-west of the capital.
Detective Constable Natalie Alchin, who led the investigation into the stylist, said: “Luckhurst completely abused his position as manager of these young women and took advantage of being alone with them during their time at work.
“It is clear that the offences he committed have had a serious and significant impact on both their personal and professional lives.
“They have shown tremendous bravery, both in coming forward to police and then giving evidence at court.”
DC Alchin noted that officers believe that there could be other young victims of Luckhurst’s “predatory behaviour”.
She said: “We believe there may be other young women who may have worked with Luckhurst and been victim to his predatory behaviour.
“We would urge anyone who believes that to be the case to come forward and speak to us. We have specialist support in place and will listen to everything you have to say.”