'They went to his home expecting to see a professional masseur, not a pervert'

A masseur who was jailed for sexual assaults has been given a further custodial sentence after five more victims came forward. In 2021, Alan Garforth pleaded guilty to offences of sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration when a masseur in Blackpool.

In September that year, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment following an investigation after a woman in her 20s reported being attacked at Garforth’s home address in Blackpool in 2018, after he provided her with a massage.

A number of other women bravely came forward following a social media post by Lancashire Constabulary to report Garforth’s crimes against them. This week, Garforth, 70, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to a further three-and-a-half years imprisonment after being found guilty by a jury of five offences of sexual assault against five women.

Detective Sergeant Paul Edmondson, of Lancashire Constabulary's West Division, said: “First and foremost, I want to commend and thank the victims who so bravely came forward to report Garforth and his crimes. Garforth chose to deceive women, and sexually assault them for his own gratification.

"I welcome the new sentence handed down on him this week. Garforth advertised himself as a professional masseur at his home address. Women would innocently book massages with his company, completely unexpecting to be sexually assaulted whilst they were there.

"They went to Garforth’s address expecting to see a professional masseur, not a pervert. Garforth is currently serving a sentence for his crimes. Thanks to the bravery of his victims, Garforth will now spend even longer in prison. I hope that this case will give other victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward. Please remember, we will