Children 1st chiefs spoke out after a predator admitted raping a 14-year-old girl while wearing a disguise. Alan Walker lured the youngster in an elaborate online scheme in which he posed under the name Jason Clarke – before setting up another account claiming to be the fictional character’s big brother. Walker then set up another bogus account under the name Jamie Smith, and coaxed the schoolgirl into meeting “Jamie” in Musselburgh. The 37-year-old then dragged her into playing fields, blindfolded and battered her before raping his terrified victim. The girl was already known to Walker, who had previously met her for sex. But she was clueless that he was the rapist – and turned to him first for support after her ordeal. He is now behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a string of charges at the High Court in Glasgow including rape and grooming offences. The girl had initially been in regular contact last year via social media with a person she believed was called Jason Clarke. This was instead Walker, who had set up a fake Facebook profile along with photos he had taken from the web. It was during one online chat that “Jason” suggested the girl should meet “his brother” Alan Walker and “encouraged” her to have sex with him. The girl agreed to meet Walker and despite her revealing her age, he told her: “Just don’t tell anyone.” The court heard chats with “Jamie Smith” were described as “sexually explicit” – before he told the girl to meet him near playing fields in Musselburgh on January 11. Walker – posing as “Jamie” – went to the site with his hood up and covered his face with a dark snood. When the girl appeared he dragged her down into the field and carried out the vicious rape and assault. As the badly-beaten girl looked for help, it was Walker she turned to first – oblivious to the fact that he was the attacker. Walker then insisted he would “do anything to get rid of Jamie Smith” – while also trying to persuade the victim not to go to police. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went on to tell her family, who immediately dialled 999. The ordeal is said to have left the victim “damaged”, affecting her schooling and exams. Lord Turnbull deferred sentencing on Walker, a former restaurant manager in Aberlady, until next month for reports. He told Walker: “The offence of rape is really quite remarkable in its violence, viciousness and premeditated nature.” Jill Cook, of Children 1st’s ParentLine Scotland helpline, said: “We should never forget that the online world can, and often does, have real-life consequences. Parents and carers should talk to their children about staying safe online and encourage them to speak up if they feel upset or threatened. It’s crucial that children – and their parents and carers – educate themselves and understand the risks.”
