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| John Allen trial: Jurors consider remaining sex charges | John Allen trial: Jurors consider remaining sex charges |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The judge in the case of a former Wrexham children's home boss found guilty of 26 sex charges says he will accept a majority decision on the remaining 12 charges. | The judge in the case of a former Wrexham children's home boss found guilty of 26 sex charges says he will accept a majority decision on the remaining 12 charges. |
| John Allen, 73, denied 40 counts of sex abuse against 19 boys and one girl in the late 1960s up to the early 1990s. | John Allen, 73, denied 40 counts of sex abuse against 19 boys and one girl in the late 1960s up to the early 1990s. |
| He was cleared of two of the charges at Mold Crown Court yesterday. | He was cleared of two of the charges at Mold Crown Court yesterday. |
| Mr Justice Openshaw told jurors he was now prepared to accept verdicts if at least 10 of them agreed. | |
| Allen, of Needham Market, Suffolk, was the owner and manager of the Bryn Alyn Community which ran 11 homes in the Wrexham area, despite not having any qualifications for the work he was doing. | Allen, of Needham Market, Suffolk, was the owner and manager of the Bryn Alyn Community which ran 11 homes in the Wrexham area, despite not having any qualifications for the work he was doing. |
| The prosecution claimed he was a "regular and formidable presence" at the homes, saying Allen created "a sexualised atmosphere... alongside a culture of fear". | The prosecution claimed he was a "regular and formidable presence" at the homes, saying Allen created "a sexualised atmosphere... alongside a culture of fear". |
| The trial also heard that some children spoke to those in authority, including the police, but were often ignored or disbelieved. | The trial also heard that some children spoke to those in authority, including the police, but were often ignored or disbelieved. |
| Jurors were also told of Allen's previous conviction in 1995 for six counts of indecent assault involving repeated abuse of six boys dating from the 1970s. | Jurors were also told of Allen's previous conviction in 1995 for six counts of indecent assault involving repeated abuse of six boys dating from the 1970s. |
| More complainants came forward following the publication of the Waterhouse report into abuse in north Wales care homes in 2001 and after the setting up of Operation Pallial in 2012 to investigate claims of historical child abuse, the court heard. | More complainants came forward following the publication of the Waterhouse report into abuse in north Wales care homes in 2001 and after the setting up of Operation Pallial in 2012 to investigate claims of historical child abuse, the court heard. |
| It is the first trial held as part of the Operation Pallial investigation | It is the first trial held as part of the Operation Pallial investigation |