Operation Pallial: man faces 14 new sex abuse charges

A man accused of the historical sex abuse of youngsters at north Wales children’s homes is facing additional charges.

John Allen, 72, from Ipswich, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard he has been charged with 14 extra offences, including nine indecent assaults, one rape and two serious sexual assaults, bringing the total to 49.

The judge was told the charges follow allegations by eight more complainants.

Mr Allen, the ex-head of the Bryn Alyn Community which ran homes in north Wales, will next appear at Mold Crown Court on 7 February, 2014.

He was not asked to enter a plea but his defence barrister said he intends to deny all the charges.

He was first arrested in April by officers from Operation Pallial, the investigation by the National Crime Agency into allegations of historical child abuse at care homes in north Wales.

The Bryn Alyn Community was a limited company which operated a total of 11 residential children’s homes in north east Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire.