GEORGE ALLEN FROM CHEPSTOW AND WORCESTER JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE AT SEDBURY PARK SCHOOL

In a significant development in the ongoing fight against historic child abuse, Geoffrey Allen, a 66-year-old man with ties to Chepstow and Worcester, has been sentenced to prison following his conviction for multiple counts of indecent assault. The case, which has spanned several years, is rooted in a detailed investigation into allegations of abuse at Sedbury Park School, a former residential facility for adolescent boys in Gloucestershire.

Operation Shogun, a collaborative effort between Gloucestershire Constabulary and Social Services, was launched in 1998 to probe allegations of child abuse linked to Sedbury Park School. This institution, which was under the jurisdiction of the Gloucestershire Local Authority, operated as a community home for boys from 1973 until its closure in 1986. Today, the site has been repurposed as a care home for the elderly, but its dark history has come under scrutiny through this investigation.

Geoffrey Allen, who resided on Barbourne Terrace in Worcester, was employed at Sedbury Park during the years when the abuse is alleged to have occurred. He was accused of committing multiple offenses against boys who had been residents at the facility. Allen faced a total of eight charges of indecent assault, two charges of buggery, and one of attempted buggery. The initial allegations involved four boys and spanned from April 1977 to July 1983. Additional charges related to two other boys, with incidents purportedly taking place between November 1993 and November 1996.

The charges against Allen emerged after a thorough three-year police investigation prompted by complaints from former pupils, many of whom are now adults and some of whom are over 40 years old. These victims recounted their experiences, shedding light on a troubling chapter in the history of Sedbury Park School. The investigation uncovered disturbing evidence of abuse that had been concealed for decades.

During the trial, Allen denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of one count of indecent assault at the Sedbury home and two counts of indecent assault in the Worcester area. As a result, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, marking a significant step in addressing the long-standing issues of abuse at the institution and providing some measure of justice for the victims involved.