Alan Ellinson aged 68 of Towers Road, Poynton, Stockport, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of sexual offences against children.
He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years.
It follows a thorough investigation into non-recent sexual offences against four children from when Ellison owned and worked at his family-run climbing instructing business called Rope Race, in Marple, from 1993 to 2023.
Ellinson was a trusted instructor who taught climbing lessons to groups young of children throughout the years, and was known by many families in the community.
The sexual offences took place between 2013 and 2015 with complaints from victims aged between 10 and 14.
The offences came to light after the mother of one of the victims reported the allegations to the NSPCC after her daughter revealed them in a conversation. The NSPCC reported it to the police and an investigation commenced immediately.
Ellinson would teach junior sessions in climbing on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings with groups of children from six to 14 years of age.
He would keep sweets in his pockets and ask the children to reach into his pockets to get one. Some of the children claimed that they would reach for a sweet and feel his penis through the fabric of his pocket.
Some children also noticed that Ellinson would sometimes have his penis exposed over the top of the waistband of his trousers.
Ellinson was arrested in 2021 and taken into police custody for interview where he denied all claims made against him. He was charged with abuse of position of trust; by causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
He denied all allegations made against him.
Rope Race closed in September 2023. Ellinson retired after its closure and no longer owns the business.
Following his trial, Ellinson was found guilty of three counts of indecent exposure and four counts of inciting a child (under the age of 13) in sexual activity by a jury, following a three-week trial.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, where he must serve 30 months custodial, and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years. He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Detective Constable Lucy Williams, of Stockport division, said: “Thank you to the brave victims of these abhorrent crimes in coming forward and speaking with us. It is thanks to your courage and patience during this long and unpleasant process, we have finally been able to see justice served.
“Ellinson was a trusted climbing instructor who taught children of families around the area, and he abused his position of trust. He is now where he belongs, in jail, and I hope victims and families feel more reassured now he has been removed from the streets.
“I want to reach out to all victims of sexual abuse who may not have come forward at this time, to let you know that we take all reports of sexual abuse seriously, no matter the passage of time. We are here to work with you at your own pace when you are ready.”
