Operation Pallial: Former care home Deputy Principal convicted of 29 sexual offences.

Thursday 24 May 2018

Operation Pallial: Former care home Deputy Principal convicted of 29 sexual offences.

The former Deputy Principal of private children’s home Ystrad Hall in Llangollen has been found guilty of 29 child sex abuse offences including buggery, indecent assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Bryan Davies, 71 from at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex was convicted of the offences following a six week trial at Mold Crown Court.

Three men contacted the NCA with new complaints about the abuse they had suffered at the hands of Davies and the investigation team re-interviewed eight other men who had previously detailed abuse by him.

The evidence and testimony of these 11 men, one of whom is now deceased, led directly to the trial and conviction.

Davies was found guilty of 20 offences of buggery and indecent assault on 11 teenage boys aged between 10 and 15 who were in care between 1976 and 1978. He was also found guilty of nine internet based offences between 2006 and 2012, where he would use live-streaming sites to incite young boys aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual acts for his pleasure.

Davies was initially arrested by officers from the NCA in Oct 2013 in relation to the contact offences and a number of computers were seized for forensic examination. However whilst on bail, Davies fled to Malta in an attempt to evade facing justice.

The examination of the seized computers identified 167 indecent images of children – mainly young teenage boys – and a number of online conversations with three young boys who Davies incited to take part in sexual acts.

Working with partners in the Crown Prosecution Service and the Malta Police Force, Davies was arrested in August 2017 under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and extradited to the UK.

Senior Investigating Officer, Philip Marshall said:

“Bryan Davies was sexually abusing vulnerable young boys who were in his care. He should have been protecting them – instead he exploited them for his own sexual gratification. It is clear from the forensic evidence from his computers that his predatory activity had developed in his use of the internet to engage young boys in sexual activity, continuing to present a real risk against the young boys  he targeted.

“I would like to pay tribute to the tenacity of all of the victims in this investigation, for their continued engagement over a number of years and for standing in court to provide harrowing evidence of their abuse. It is testament to their resolution and integrity that they have sought and achieved justice for events that happened over 40 years ago, but which for them remain real and tangible in their personal lives.

“I would also like to acknowledge the professional law enforcement team effort of the NCA, the UK Police Services of North Wales Police, Merseyside, Warwickshire, Sussex and the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the Malta Police Force and the Malta Attorney General’s office.

This collaboration ensured that vital evidence was presented to the jury which ultimately led to Bryan Davies facing justice for his actions”.

Chief Constable Mark Polin said: “I would like to thank the NCA for the thorough and professional investigation they have conducted since Operation Pallial began at my request five and a half years ago. There have been 10 convictions to date and the team have worked closely with North Wales Police, other partners and agencies to deliver advice and support to victims of past abuse and to investigate crimes.”

“The victims in each case have waited a long time for justice. It has not been an easy journey for them and it has taken courage to stand by their convictions.”

“Nothing anyone can do now will change the past, but the investment which now goes in to investigating sexual abuse and the significance it is given is considerably different to how it was in the past.”

Karen Mullin of the CPS said: “Bryan Davies used his position of influence to prey on young boys, promising them goods and home visits in order to win their trust. His abuse was planned and calculated, driven by his own gratification.

“The CPS provided advice to the police from an early stage regarding the investigation and worked with them to secure a European Arrest Warrant.

“Despite the lengths Davies went to in order to evade the authorities, he was unsuccessful and was brought back to the UK to face justice.

“The victims have shown great courage in giving their evidence to the court, and we thank them for their support. They have waited decades to see the man who abused them answer for his crimes.  We hope that it provides some comfort for them.”