Caernarfon,North Wales - Pair charged with dozens of child cruelty offences due for October 2016 trial

Published date: 22 December 2015 | 

Published by: Mike Williams 
Read more articles by Mike Williams Email reporter

TWO members of staff at a North Wales education unit charged with dozens of child cruelty offences are expected to go on trial in October of next year.

Defendants Garry Vaughan Roberts, aged 43, of Maes Cadnant, Caernarfon, and Sion Bedwyr Evans, aged 41, who was the acting headmaster, of Glanffynnon in Llanrug, face 50 charges between them.

They appeared at Mold Crown Court and Judge Rhys Rowlands fixed a provisional trial date for October 17 next year.

The defendants have not formally entered their pleas yet pending further legal arguments.

A hearing to decide those issues will be held in April.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said that a Welsh speaking judge would be appointed to conduct the trial, which is expected to last four weeks.

He said that the issue of venue should be the subject of written representations from both the prosecution and defence.

The defence had suggested Mold because of previous difficulties which were alleged to have occurred in Caernarfon.

Both men were rebailed on condition that they do not approach prosecution witnesses.

Prosecuting barrister Sion ap Mihangel told the court that there were a total of 24 complainants, all under the age of 16, who he described as vulnerable.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place at Canolfan Brynffynnon, Felinheli, between September 2006 and March 2014.

Both men were suspended from the unit in March last year after the allegations were made in February.

The pupil referral unit was been the subject of a joint investigation by North Wales Police and Gwydd social services.

The centre has been closed since May 2014.

At the time of their arrest, police said in a statement: “As a result of a joint investigation between North Wales Police and Gwynedd council social services, two people have been charged with offences of child cruelty.

“One man was charged with 26 separate offences while the other was charged in connection with 24.”

see-http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/156434/pair-charged-with-dozens-of-child-cruelty-offences-due-for-october-2016-trial.aspx