BARRIE ALDEN AND JOHN WRIGHT SENTENCED FOR ABUSE AT TY MAWR SCHOOL NEAR ABERGAVENNY AND MONMOUTHSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community and brought to light the dark history of abuse within institutional settings, two men who worked at the Ty Mawr School near Abergavenny and in Monmouthshire have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in abusing vulnerable young boys.

On February 2000, a Newport Crown Court judge handed down a combined prison term of 23 years to the two offenders. The 66-year-old Barrie Alden, who served as the deputy principal at Ty Mawr School, received a 15-year sentence after being found guilty of ten separate offences involving young boys. Meanwhile, John Wright, aged 56 and a former housemaster from Talgarth in Powys, was sentenced to eight years after being convicted of six counts of abuse.

Both men were acquitted of several other charges brought against them, but the convictions they did receive are based on extensive evidence presented during the trial. The court was told that the abuse occurred over a span of nearly two decades, from 1966 to 1983, targeting boys who were particularly vulnerable due to their backgrounds. Many of these victims came from broken homes or single-parent families, making them easy targets for exploitation.

Prosecutor Roger Thomas QC addressed the jury, describing the victims as timid boys who were often frightened and subjected to bullying while at the school. He explained, “Some boys as young as eight were sent to the local authority school after ending up in court for trivial offences. Once there, they were subjected to indecent assaults and serious sexual assaults by Wright and Alden. At a time when they needed discipline, moral support, and guidance, the exact opposite happened. They were abused, morally and socially corrupted. These defendants took it upon themselves to satisfy their sexual desires on them, and made a bad situation considerably worse.”

The investigation into the abuse was initiated by Gwent Police under the operation codenamed 'Operation Flight.' Both Alden and Wright denied all allegations, claiming that the victims were lying or seeking to gain financial compensation. However, the jury, composed of six men and six women, found them guilty after hearing harrowing testimonies. The jury was praised for their dedication and commitment in listening to the detailed and distressing evidence.

In a related case, Neil Wardell, aged 44, a former housemaster at an approved school for young boys, was sentenced to three years in prison for indecent assault on a teenager and violent attacks on others. Wardell, now residing in Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, worked at Ty Mawr School in Gliwern, Monmouthshire, from 1982 until the end of 1988. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was banned from working with young people again.

Judge Thomas Crowther QC addressed the offenders directly, stating, “You abused boys in their early to middle teens who were less equipped than the rest of the population to know how to resist and complain. It is regrettably a common feature sometimes described as grooming. You used your position and power to discourage these boys from reporting you by threats and punishment.”

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Terry Hapgood, the senior investigating officer of Operation Flight, expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision. He emphasized the collaborative effort involved in the investigation, which included police and social services working together to bring justice. Hapgood also indicated that this trial was the first in a series of ongoing investigations under Operation Flight, which is expected to lead to further charges and convictions.

Ty Mawr School, which was closed in 1991, remains a stark reminder of the abuse that took place within its walls. The convictions mark a significant step in addressing past wrongs and ensuring accountability for those responsible for exploiting vulnerable children in the care of the institution.