COLNE: Jail for sex fiend arrested in Spain after ‘Crimewatch’ appeal

Glen Tranter, who sexually abused three girls in Pendle, was apprehended when the Crimewatch programme was shown in a bar in the resort of Benalmedina.

He was in the premises at the time in March and recognised by other customers.

Preston Crown Court heard that the following day, he was arrested by Spanish police on a European arrest warrant and extradicted to this country in April.

Tranter (41), of Keighley Road, Colne, had pleaded guilty to four offences of indecent assault and another four of sexual activity with a child.

The offences were committed against three girls under 16, some of them going back a number of years. The court was told he was arrested and interviewed in June last year and given police bail, with a return date in September last year.

He failed to keep that date and went on to be circulated as wanted.

His whereabouts became known when the Crimewatch programme was broadcast on March 29th this year.

Mr Ian Metcalfe (prosecuting) said two of the girls were aged 11 or 12 at the time of the offences. The other had been 14 or 15.

Some of his offending had involved touching the girls. Two of them were offered money, in exchange for him touching them.

One of the girls would later tell police she had “froze” when Tranter began performing a sex act upon her.

The defendant had touched the third girl over her clothing.

Matters came to light in May last year when she sent a letter to someone, telling of his behaviour. The police quickly got involved and the other girls came forward.

Mr Metcalfe told the court: “On June 19th, 2009, he was arrested and interviewed. He denied any sexual misconduct.

“He was given bail by the police after being interviewed, with notice of a return date to Nelson police station on September 9th, 2009. He failed to keep that date.

“He was circulated as wanted. His whereabouts became known to the police after a broadcast of his details in the Crimewatch programme on March 29th this year.

“It is accepted he was present in a bar in Benalmedina where the programme came on. He was recognised by other customers in the bar.

“A European arrest warrant followed. He was arrested by Spanish police on March 30th and extradicted to the UK on April 14th”.

The court heard that in July, 1987, he was fined for two offences of indecently assaulting a woman, with 16 matters taken into consideration. The charges had involved him approaching a woman from behind and groping her.

Miss Louise Kitching (defending) said it appeared each of the latest victims had managed to put what happened behind them and get on with their lives.

Tranter had earlier pleaded guilty, although not at the earliest opportunity. This had, nevertheless, spared the victims the trauma of having to give evidence to a court.

Miss Kitching added: “He has remorse. He has not sought to blame the complainants. He has accepted what he has done.

“He has asked for help. He has asked the probation service to direct him to specific courses and treatment programmes to help him address his offending in this particular way.

“This is so that, on his release, he doesn’t continue in this vein”.

Judge Jonathan Gibson told Tranter he will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely, banned from working with children and subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

The last order bars him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16, or allowing them unsupervised into his home or vehicle.