This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-37704127
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gordon Anglesea: Former police chief guilty of child sex abuse | Gordon Anglesea: Former police chief guilty of child sex abuse |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former north Wales police chief has been found guilty of historical child sex offences. | A former north Wales police chief has been found guilty of historical child sex offences. |
| Gordon Anglesea, 79, from Old Colwyn, was convicted of one charge of indecent assault against one boy, and three indecent assaults against another. | |
| Addressing Anglesea at Mold Crown Court Judge Geraint Walters said "there can only be one sentence and that is a prison sentence". | |
| North Wales Police's assistant chief constable apologised after the trial. | |
| "The victims in this case have waited a long time for justice and I am pleased that today they have seen this done," said ACC Richard Debicki. | |
| "It has not been an easy journey from them, it has taken courage to stand by their convictions, but I hope that they will now take some solace from seeing their abuser brought to justice." | |
| "I would like to apologise on behalf of the force to those whose lives he so traumatically affected." | |
| Anglesea, a former superintendent in the Wrexham area, had denied the charges, with his defence funded by the Police Federation. | Anglesea, a former superintendent in the Wrexham area, had denied the charges, with his defence funded by the Police Federation. |
| He was also found not guilty of an alternative charge of a serious sexual assault, and granted bail until 4 November when he will be sentenced. | |
| Ed Beltrami, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said Anglesea had been in "a position of power and authority in order to prey on very young and vulnerable victims" and praised those who gave evidence for helping to secure his conviction. | Ed Beltrami, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales, said Anglesea had been in "a position of power and authority in order to prey on very young and vulnerable victims" and praised those who gave evidence for helping to secure his conviction. |
| "I hope that it will also prove to be a meaningful step in the recovery process of his victims, who have had to live with what happened for a long time before seeing their abuser brought before the court," he added. | "I hope that it will also prove to be a meaningful step in the recovery process of his victims, who have had to live with what happened for a long time before seeing their abuser brought before the court," he added. |
| 'Smirk on his face' | 'Smirk on his face' |
| Anglesea was arrested in 2013 as part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Pallial investigation into historical abuse across north Wales. | Anglesea was arrested in 2013 as part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Pallial investigation into historical abuse across north Wales. |
| The offences took place between 1982 and 1987, when both boys were aged 14 or 15. | The offences took place between 1982 and 1987, when both boys were aged 14 or 15. |
| One boy was abused in the showers of a Home Office attendance centre in Wrexham run by Anglesea, who was a police inspector at the time. | One boy was abused in the showers of a Home Office attendance centre in Wrexham run by Anglesea, who was a police inspector at the time. |
| The court heard how he subjected juvenile offenders to a military-style, "short, sharp shock" regime of physical exercise, drill parades and woodwork classes on Saturday afternoons. | The court heard how he subjected juvenile offenders to a military-style, "short, sharp shock" regime of physical exercise, drill parades and woodwork classes on Saturday afternoons. |
| Anglesea was "answerable to no-one" at the centre and would "inspect" the parade, make the youngsters do naked sit-ups and squat thrusts, then loiter around the showers "with a smirk on his face". | Anglesea was "answerable to no-one" at the centre and would "inspect" the parade, make the youngsters do naked sit-ups and squat thrusts, then loiter around the showers "with a smirk on his face". |
| His second victim was initially sexually assaulted by convicted paedophile John Allen, while living at the Bryn Alyn children's home in Wrexham and the abuse sometimes involved other adults who used him "like a toy". | His second victim was initially sexually assaulted by convicted paedophile John Allen, while living at the Bryn Alyn children's home in Wrexham and the abuse sometimes involved other adults who used him "like a toy". |
| On one occasion, at a house in Mold, he said Anglesea "grabbed him by the hair" and indecently assaulted him, calling him "scum" and telling him he had the "power to send him away". | On one occasion, at a house in Mold, he said Anglesea "grabbed him by the hair" and indecently assaulted him, calling him "scum" and telling him he had the "power to send him away". |
| The prosecution said both victims had been left "damaged" by the abuse and led "chaotic" lives of crime and drug and alcohol addiction. | The prosecution said both victims had been left "damaged" by the abuse and led "chaotic" lives of crime and drug and alcohol addiction. |
| 'Position of trust' | |
| During the trial, Anglesea was questioned about links to other paedophiles, including Gary Cooke, who is currently serving 14 years in prison, and Peter Howarth, former deputy head of the Bryn Estyn children's home, who died in prison in 1997. | During the trial, Anglesea was questioned about links to other paedophiles, including Gary Cooke, who is currently serving 14 years in prison, and Peter Howarth, former deputy head of the Bryn Estyn children's home, who died in prison in 1997. |
| In 1994, Anglesea was awarded £375,000 in libel damages after media organisations ran stories about his links to abuse at children's homes in north Wales. | In 1994, Anglesea was awarded £375,000 in libel damages after media organisations ran stories about his links to abuse at children's homes in north Wales. |
| One report, published in 1991, detailed how Bryn Estyn residents claimed he was a regular visitor to the home. | One report, published in 1991, detailed how Bryn Estyn residents claimed he was a regular visitor to the home. |
| Anglesea has always maintained the allegations at the heart of the libel case were false but said in court that even after the libel trial, the issue "never went away". | Anglesea has always maintained the allegations at the heart of the libel case were false but said in court that even after the libel trial, the issue "never went away". |
| National Crime Agency deputy director Roy McComb said Anglesea held a position of trust, adding: "Children and adults should have been able to look to for protection and support if they felt vulnerable. | |
| "He sought out opportunities to abuse children and has been brought to justice today because victims have had the confidence to come forward." |