JOHN ALLEN FROM BRYN ALYN AND WHERSTEAD CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES IN NORTH WALES

In December 2019, the criminal case against John Allen, a former care home proprietor with ties to Bryn Alyn and Wherstead, reached a significant verdict as he was found guilty of multiple historical sexual offences involving young boys. Allen, who previously served a life sentence for child sex abuse, was convicted on eight counts related to five victims spanning from 1976 to 1992.

John Allen, aged 78 at the time of conviction, had been previously sentenced in 2014 to a minimum of 11 years in prison after being convicted of 33 sexual offences. The court proceedings at Mold Crown Court revealed that Allen, who was described as a “predatory paedophile,” had denied 16 charges of indecent assault, two counts of illegal sex acts, and two additional charges of attempting to commit other illegal sexual acts. Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty of seven counts of indecent assault and one count of a serious sexual offence involving children as young as 13 years old who had been under his care.

During the trial, jurors listened to a disturbing interview with a complainant now in his 50s, who recounted a traumatic incident where he was dragged into Allen’s office following a fight, pinned to the floor, and then sexually assaulted after his clothes were forcibly removed. This case is part of a broader and deeply troubling history associated with Allen’s operations.

Allen was responsible for establishing the Bryn Alyn community of children’s homes in 1968, which at its peak consisted of 11 properties housing over 150 young people. These homes drew children not only from North Wales but from across the United Kingdom. Between 1976 and 1992, many of these children endured repeated abuse at the hands of Allen, who exploited his position of authority and trust.

Most of the victims in this recent case came forward only after Allen’s earlier conviction in 2014, which involved 33 charges of historical sexual abuse against other children in his care. The revelations about Allen’s misconduct are part of a larger investigation into abuse at children’s homes in North Wales, which gained prominence through the Operation Pallial inquiry launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2012.

Prior to his latest convictions, Allen’s criminal history included a 1995 conviction for six counts of indecent assault committed between 1972 and 1983, for which he served six years in prison. He also faced numerous allegations during the Waterhouse Inquiry into the abuse scandals at North Wales children’s homes, where 28 victims accused him of sexual attacks. Allen’s pattern of abuse often involved grooming, giving expensive gifts to his victims, and threatening them to maintain silence.

Allen’s influence extended beyond his criminal activities. He was once a prominent figure in the hotel industry and managed multiple children’s homes in North Wales, Cheshire, and Shropshire, with an estimated total of up to 500 children placed in his care over the years. His business was highly lucrative, with councils paying approximately £15,000 per year for each child’s care during the 1980s, contributing to a turnover exceeding £28 million over 13 years.

Despite his criminal record, Allen managed to live a double life. After retiring in 1990, he moved into the hotel industry, working as a night porter at a Premier Inn hotel, a position he held while hiding his past. His previous convictions and allegations of abuse remained largely unknown to his colleagues and neighbors, who described him as a friendly individual with no suspicion of his criminal history.

Allen’s case remains a stark reminder of the widespread abuse that occurred within North Wales’ care system, and the ongoing efforts to bring justice to the victims who suffered at his hands. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of accountability and the enduring impact of these crimes on the survivors and the community at large.