Neil Foden: Former headteacher who ‘abused trust’ jailed for ‘shocking’ sex offences against four girls
A former headteacher has been jailed for 17 years for sexual offences against four girls.
Neil Foden, of Old Colwyn, was found guilty in May after a three-week trial at Mold Crown Court in North Wales.
The 66-year-old was previously headteacher at Ysgol Friars school in Bangor, Gwynedd.
He was found guilty of 19 charges in total – including 12 counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child in a position of trust.
He was also convicted of one count each of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, sexual communication with a child, possession of indecent photographs of a child for show and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
He will serve two-thirds of the sentence in jail, before he is released on licence.
Neil Foden. Pic: North Wales Police
‘Dreadful secret’
Sentencing Foden on Monday, Judge Rowlands said Foden was “a man looked up to by many in the education system” but he had “managed to hide a dreadful secret”.
He said Foden “repeatedly [took] advantage of young girls in order to satisfy [his] own depraved, sexual needs”.
“You were in a position of trust as regards the children who were in your care,” he added.
“It is clear that you have no remorse, you’ve not shown an ounce of contrition for what you did and you have no insight into the undoubted very serious harm that you’ve caused both to the individual victims and their families,” he added.
Judge Rowlands said Foden was “a forceful, bullying presence in [his] school – a man who people were afraid of crossing”.
“[His victims’] vulnerability was recognised by you and yet you still deliberately targeted them,” he added.
Foden became headteacher of Ysgol Friars in 1997 and was later drafted in to “oversee a second school”. He also served as a union rep.
‘Evil’
The court heard personal victim statements from the four complainants.
Two were read out in person, while the others were read by the prosecution on the victims’ behalf.
One victim said she “felt lucky that [Foden] has been found guilty and [she] will never have to see him again”.
“Foden has affected how I see and view relationships,” said another.
Another said she doesn’t think she will “ever recover fully from this”.
While a fourth said what Foden had done was “evil”.
“It’s hit me hard and I will never forgive him,” her statement read.
‘Shock and revulsion’
The trial heard he had abused the four complainants, who cannot be identified, over a period of four years.
The jury returned guilty verdicts and cleared Foden of one count of sexual activity with a child on Wednesday 15 May at Mold Crown Court.
Assistant chief constable of North Wales Police, Gareth Evans, said the force shared “the shock and revulsion of our communities towards his actions”.
“I can’t overstate the impact that this has had on our communities, and particularly on young people in the area,” he said.
“I encourage anyone who has suffered sexual violence in the past to come forward. We are here to listen. We are here to support you. We will do our best for you.”
Ceri Ellis-Jones, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “We welcome the sentence passed today and hope that this provides comfort to the victims knowing that Foden has now been brought to justice”.
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After he passed sentence, Judge Rowlands commended the police “for the thoroughness of their investigation”.
He also said he wished “to place on record the court’s admiration for the individual victims and, indeed, their families for their courage in coming forward”.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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