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Sexual abuse was 'part of life' John Allen trial told | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A former resident of a Wrexham children's home says it was a "paedophile playground" and part of life for a Bryn Alyn boy. | |
He was giving evidence in the trial of John Allen, who owned and ran the Bryn Alyn Community, a group of homes near Wrexham. | |
The witness told a jury that abuse was "part of the routine" of living at the home under Mr Allen's regime. | |
Mr Allen denies 40 counts of sexual abuse against boys and one girl. | |
Giving evidence on Wednesday via video link, the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Mr Allen ran the home "like a god". | |
He told the jury: "John Allen has been in my life every second. | |
"It'll never go away, there's no such thing as closure." | |
Mr Allen, 73, from Needham Market near Ipswich, Suffolk, is accused of carrying out sexual abuse at the homes between 1968 and 1991. | |
The jury heard how the witness went into care for his own protection, and to escape his mother and physical abuse. | The jury heard how the witness went into care for his own protection, and to escape his mother and physical abuse. |
Routine abuse | |
He said he was already "traumatised and frightened," by having to live in the institution. | |
"I was 11 years old and I was frightened," he told the court. | "I was 11 years old and I was frightened," he told the court. |
"It was sexual gratification for him, I was an object," he said, adding that he regarded the defendant as a homosexual paedophile. | "It was sexual gratification for him, I was an object," he said, adding that he regarded the defendant as a homosexual paedophile. |
He could not say how many times he was abused, but he said he remembers it was part of his life. | He could not say how many times he was abused, but he said he remembers it was part of his life. |
"It was something I expected to happen, part of the routine of being a Bryn Alyn boy," said the witness. | "It was something I expected to happen, part of the routine of being a Bryn Alyn boy," said the witness. |
"I know it happened more than once, but once is too many times." | "I know it happened more than once, but once is too many times." |
But under cross-examination by John McDermott QC, defending, the victim denied courting publicity with the media over claims of abuse at the home. | |
"I never actively sought them out, they've come to me," he said. | |
He said he ran away many times but was always picked up by the police who did not believe the abuse claims. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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