‘We must learn the lessons’ from headteacher abuse, says Wales’ children’s commissioner

It is important to “learn the lessons” after a former headteacher was found guilty of sexually abusing four little girls, the Children’s Commission for Wales has said.

Neil Foden was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday after being convicted on a total of 19 charges.

The 66-year-old, from Old Colwyn, was found guilty in May following a three-week trial at Mold Crown Court.

Commissioner for Children WalesRocio Cifuentes said she “remains open to all available options” to reach a conclusion.

“We cannot allow this devastating experience to pass without learning lessons that will better protect children in the future,” she said in a statement to Sky News.

“As Commissioner for Children, what I care most about is ensuring that the next steps taken by the Council for the Protection of Children’s Rights are as decisive and comprehensive as possible.

“I want to make sure that the Child Practice Review remit is sufficient for us to identify these lessons.”

‘Disappointment’

Gwynedd Council said Foden’s victims had been “let down” and that the recommendations of the North Wales Safeguarding Board would be implemented.

During his sentencing hearing, Judge Rowlands described Foden as “a man respected by many in the education system” who “managed to hide a terrible secret”.

He said Foden repeatedly abused young girls to satisfy his “depraved sexual needs”.

“You held a position of trust regarding the children in your care,” he added.

“It is clear that you feel no remorse, have shown not a shred of contrition for what you have done and have no insight into the undoubted, very serious harm you have caused both to the individual victims and their families.”

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Judge Rowlands said Foden was a “forceful, aggressive individual” at his school, Ysgol Friars, where he became headmaster in 1997.

The union representative who was also appointed to “supervise the second school” was, the judge said, a man “people were afraid to go near.”

He was arrested on September 6 last year at his workplace.