A jury was today (Monday sworn in to try the former deputy principal of a Llangollen school who has denied a series of historic sexual offences.

Defendant Bryan Davies, aged 70, appeared in the dock at Mold Crown Court and a jury panel of more than 40 people was brought in to court.

Davies, of West Redhill near Reigate, Surrey, had previously pleaded not guilty to charges which are alleged to have happened at Ystrad Hall and an annex named Eirianfa at Llangollen, which was run by Care Concern.

The offences are alleged to have taken place against boys in the 1970s.

A jury of 12, and two reserves to listen to the opening of the case, were sworn-in this afternoon and the jury was sent home until Thursday.

Judge Huw Rees told the jury that legal issues had arisen and that he would consider them in the absence of the jury.

The legal arguments would take up the rest of the day, Tuesday and Wednesday, he explained.

The case follows an investigation by officers from the National Crime Agency’s Operation Pallial’s probe into claims of historic a.use in North Wales children’s homes.

The trial is listed to take some six weeks.