A Welsh headteacher has been found guilty of sexual abuse involving four girls. Neil Foden, 66, who worked at a school in North Wales, was charged with 20 offences against five girls, who cannot be identified to protect their anonymity.
He stood impassively in the dock at Mold Crown Court as the jury foreman read out the guilty verdicts on 19 out of 20 indictments. The jury of seven women and five men delivered their verdicts on the defendant, of Gwynant, Old Colwyn, after a three-week trial.The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands called him “arrogant and controlling” man who was used to getting his own way. He said some explanations for his behaviour “beggared belief”.
The court heard concerns about Foden were raised with Cyngor Gwynedd at an earlier stage. Judge Rowlands said: “When real concerns were first raised about the defendant with the county council they were simply dismissed, pretty much out of hand.”
He said no investigation was carried out and no notes were taken. He added: “We now know he continued to offend. That’s very concerning indeed.”
Foden was convicted of sexual activity with a child, using or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to arrange or incite sexual activity with a child by penetration, engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust and possession of an indecent photograph of a child.
He adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be made. Foden is due to be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on July 1. The judge told him to expect a sentence of some length.
A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: “As a council, we welcome the court’s decision. We are appalled by the nature of the crimes committed and commend and admire the remarkable courage and resilience the victims and their families have displayed throughout the process.
They said: “As a result, pastoral arrangements put in place for pupils at the start of the criminal proceedings will continue for the foreseeable future.
From the beginning of this case, Cyngor Gwynedd has worked closely with North Wales Police to ensure that the Wales Safeguarding Procedures have been followed in full.
If you have suffered abuse or would like to discuss experiences, please contact our specialist child abuse solicitor, Charles Derham on the following:
A former staff member at a children’s home has been jailed for 15 years for child abuse dating back to the 1980s.
Willy Gillham was sentenced at Southampton crown court after being found guilty of four counts of serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16.
The court heard the 64-year-old Gillham, from Deux-Sèvres in France, had committed offences including rape and indecent assault at the former Palmerston House children’s home in Romsey, Hampshire, during the 1980s.
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