Retired police officer Alan Godfrey says the encounter occurred while he was on patrol in Todmorden, West Yorks, in the early hours of November 28, 1980 A retired police officer who claims to be Britain's first alien abduction will be keeping a close eye on the skies tomorrow - 35 years after his UFO encounter. Alan Godfrey, a former PC, says his close encounter with a UFO is still fresh in his mind as it was 35 years ago. He was on patrol in Todmorden, West Yorks, in the early hours of 28 November 1980 when he believes he was snatched from his police car. Under hypnosis, arranged by solicitor Harry Harris, he recalled seeing small beings and a tall man with a beard on the craft, who conducted medical tests on him. His encounter is regarded by researchers as the first alien abduction in the UK. Retired former police detective Gary Heseltine, who edits UFO Truth Magazine, said: "I researched Alan's case over an 18 month period, meeting with him on many occasions and becoming his friend.