Latest news with #PrisonandProbationOmbudsman
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Inmate's death at prison to be investigated
The prison watchdog is investigating the death of an inmate at HMP Manchester two years ago, it has emerged. The Prison and Probation Ombudsman has issued a notice on its website saying it has started an investigation, pending the outcome of an inquest into the death of Lee Gorst, 35, on 25 April 2023. Gorst was serving a seven-year jail term for aggravated burglary in Bury on 15 June 2021. He admitted charges of robbery and threatening another person with a bladed article, namely a knife. A Prison Service spokesperson said: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman is investigating." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. The Prison and Probation Ombudsman
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Paedo who acted ‘like God' abusing 19 kids in string of care homes dies in jail
John Allen owned a network of care homes in Wales where he abused children and the 83 year old has now died in HMP Bure where he was jailed for life for his depraved crimes A paedophile who "acted like God" abusing children across a string of care homes he owned has died in jail. John Allen, who made millions running multiple community children's homes in Wrexham, in Wales, was sentenced to life behind bars for his depraved crimes. He was finally snared decades after his reign of terror began, and was serving life imprisonment at HMP Bure where he died at the age of 83. A spokesperson for the prison said: "HMP Bure prisoner John Allen died on May 3, 2025. As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Allen was the managing director of Bryn Alyn children's homes for two decades after setting up the first in 1968 when he was just 27. At one point Allen oversaw 11 properties providing care to more than 150 vulnerable children. But that allowed him to abuse victims who were living at the homes. One former resident at the Bryn Alyn children's home said living there "wasn't care, it was like hell". The victim told how Allen had groomed him with gifts before abusing him. He said: "The system really did fail us." Allen was first jailed for six years in 1995 after being found guilty of child abuse. Then in 2014, Allen was sentenced to life in jail for 33 sex offences carried out between 1976 and 1992. The court heard at the time most of the complainants, 18 boys and one girl, came from "dysfunctional, chaotic" backgrounds, reported the Express. Instead of being protected they were taken advantage of by a "powerful man" who was described as acting "like a god" by one traumatised victim. Mold Crown Court heard Allen put the children in a "highly sexualised atmosphere" and kept his victims silenced through fear and isolation. Five years later he was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault and one of a serious sexual offence against children when more victims came forward. Eleanor Laws, prosecuting, described Allen as a "predatory paedophile" who was a "regular and formidable" presence. Ms Laws branded Allen's sexual abuse of boys as "prolific". She told the court: "They were often forgotten. It made them the perfect targets for John Allen. His sexual abuse of these boys was prolific. He took risks to seriously sexually abuse them and he sexually abused them on many, many occasions." Following conviction he was sentenced to another 14-and-a-half years by Judge Rhys Rowlands. The judge told Mold Crown Court Allen's crimes represented "sheer wickedness". The sex beast was originally arrested after an independent investigation was launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2012. Dubbed Operation Pallial, the probe looks into allegations of historic abuse in the care system. The NSPCC said Allen had conducted a "reign of terror over a dark period of several decades". The charity added that his crimes put him "high up the scale of the most prolific child abusers of recent times".
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
One of ‘UK's worst paedos' who acted ‘like a God' abusing 19 children in care homes he owned dies in jail
A HORRIFIC sex offender who "acted like God" abusing children in care homes has died in jail. John Allen, who ran multiple community children's homes in Wrexham, in Wales, was sentenced to life behind bars for his depraved crimes. 3 John Allen died in prison aged 83 Credit: © Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures 3 The former children's home owner was sentenced to life in jail Credit: WNS He had only spent 11 years locked up in HMP Bure when he died aged 83, said the prison. A spokesperson said: 'HMP Bure prisoner John Allen died on May 3, 2025. "As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.' The twisted paedophile ran Bryn Alyn children's homes for two decades after setting up his first in 1968 when he was just 27. Read More At it's peak, Allen owned 11 properties with more than 150 children. Many were subject to heinous abuse while living at the homes. One former resident at the Bryn Alyn children's home said living there "wasn't care, it was like hell". He told how Allen had groomed him with gifts before abusing him. Most read in The Sun "The system really did fail us," he added. In 2014 Allen was sentenced to life in jail for 33 sex offences carried out between 1976 and 1992. The court heard at the time most of the complainants came from 'dysfunctional, chaotic' backgrounds. Instead of being protected they were taken advantage of by a "powerful man" who was described "as like a god" by one victim. Mold Crown Court heard Allen put the children in a "highly sexualised atmosphere" and kept his victims silenced through fear and isolation. Five years later he was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault and one of a serious sexual offence against children when more victims came forward. He was sentenced to another 14-and-a-half years by judge Rhys Rowlands. The judge told Mold Crown Court Allen was "sheer wickedness". The monster was originally arrested after an independent investigation was launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2012. Dubbed Operation Pallial, the investigation looks into allegations of past abuse in the care system. The NSPCC said Allen had conducted a 'reign of terror over a dark period of several decades'. He was put 'high up the scale of the most prolific child abusers of recent times'. 3 In 2014 Allen was sentenced to life in jail for 33 sex offences carried out between 1976 and 1992 Credit: Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Children's care home paedophile dies in prison
A paedophile who was serving a life sentence for sexual abuse in north Wales children's homes has died in prison at the age of 83. John Allen, who ran several homes, including Bryn Alyn in Wrexham, was jailed for a minimum of 11 years in 2014 for sex offences from the 1960s to the 1990s. He was found guilty in 2019 of seven further counts of indecent assault and one of a serious sexual offence against children as young as 13 after further victims came forward. A Prison Service spokesman confirmed Allen died at HMP Bure in Norfolk on 3 May, adding: "As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Man flew from US to 'marry' Welsh girl he groomed Sex abuse head teacher report not being made public 'Coward' paedophile who fled country convicted Allen set up the Bryn Alyn community of children's homes in 1968 which, at its height, had 11 properties housing more than 150 young people from around the UK. Many found themselves subjected to repeated abuse at the hands of Allen between 1976 and 1992. In the 2019, jurors heard an interview with a victim who said he was dragged to Allen's office after a fight and pinned to the floor. The next thing he remembered was his clothes being ripped off and Allen sexually assaulting him. One former resident at the Bryn Alyn children's home said living there "wasn't care, it was like hell". He explained how Allen had groomed him and gave him gifts before abusing him. "The system really did fail us," he added. The 2014 case against Allen was the first prosecution following the Operation Pallial investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse at children's homes which was launched by the National Crime Agency in 2012. Care home owner guilty of more child sex abuse Care home owner jailed for more child sex abuse
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- North Wales Live
One of Wales' most notorious paedophiles has died in prison
A notorious child sex offender has died in prison. Former Wrexham care home owner John Allen spent 11 years behind bars for offences carried out over "several decades". In court he was labelled a 'predatory paedophile' who committed 'seriously depraved behaviour'. Allen, who ran several Bryn Alyn community children's homes in Wrexham, was serving a life sentence for child sex abuse. HM Prison Service has confirmed he died at HMP Bure, a prison for sex offenders. He was aged 83. A spokesperson said: 'HMP Bure prisoner John Allen died on May 3, 2025. As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.' Allen set up the children's homes in 1968 and ran them for 20 years. Bryn Alyn became one of the UK's largest providers of residential care for children, at one point accommodating more than 150 youngsters from around the UK at 11 properties. Many were subjected to repeated abuse. In 2014, Allen was jailed for life, with a minimum of 11 years, for 33 sex offences committed between 1976 and 1992. Further victims then came forward and he was found guilty in December 2019 of seven counts of indecent assault and one of a serious sexual offence against children. Jailing him for a further 14-and-a-half years, judge Rhys Rowlands told Mold Crown Court that Allen had shown 'sheer wickedness' by taking advantage of children in his care. He was arrested as part of Operation Pallial, an independent investigation launched in 2012 by the National Crime Agency (NCA) into allegations of past abuse in the care system in North Wales. By January 2020, 375 people had come forward with information, leading to 13 convictions. The NSPCC said Allen had conducted a 'reign of terror over a dark period of several decades'. His actions, added the children's charity, put him 'high up the scale of the most prolific child abusers of recent times'.
