THE former deputy principal of a private children’s care home – charged with sexual offences against 11 boys in his charge back in the 1970s – was a predatory paedophile with a continuing interest in young boys, it has been alleged.

Bryan Davies, 71, denies 38 charges – 29 of which are alleged to have happened at Ystrad Hall and an annex named Eirianfa at Llangollen, which was run by a private organisation named Care Concern, a jury at Mold Crown Court was told.

Barrister David Spens QC, prosecuting, said that after being arrested, when he denied the offences, Davies failed to answer bail and fled the country in 2014.

“It appears he fled to Malta, the island of Gozo, where he was eventually traced by the police and arrested three-and-half years later on August 2 last year,” Mr Spens said.

He had then been charged with further offences relating to the making indecent photographs of children between 2007 and 2013 and inciting children over the Internet to indulge in sexual acts dating back to 2011 and 2012.

Some of the images depicted adults involved in penetrative acts with children – and he had also incited young boys over Skype to indulge in sexual acts, it was alleged.

Mr Spens said Davies had appeared at Llangollen Magistrates Court in September 1978 where he admitted three charges of indecent assault against two residents of the care home.

He said that when questioned now, the defendant had denied having a sexual interest in boys and said those offences “just happened”

The prosecutor said that back in 1978, and then again in 2011 and 2013, he had a “profound, deep, long lasting, sexual interest in young boys”.

Opening the case, Mr Spens said Davies held the position of deputy principal officer for some two years to May 1978.

The complaints were residents of Eirianfa, a unit for the younger boys aged up to 16. Between 25 and 30 boys had been placed in care there by various local authorities.

In 1991 North Wales Police began a major inquiry into care homes in the former Clwyd and Gwynedd council areas and a judicial review, the North Wales Tribunal chaired by Sir Ronald Waterhouse QC enquiring into the alleged abuse of children in care, took place in 1997 and 1978.

In 2013 a further investigation was ordered by the Government, which was concerned that previous investigations had not been thorough and rigorous, said Mr Spens.

That investigation was carried out by the National Crime Agency.

He told the jury the complainants they would hear from were now men in their fifties who made allegations of sexual abuse by Davies when they were children in care.

Davies, from West Redhill in Surrey – but who at the time in the 1970s lived at Stryd Isa in Penycae – denies all charges.

In her opening speech defence barrister Tania Griffiths QC urged the jury to keep an open mind.

“Make no mistake about it, you will not like Mr Davies. In fact you will not like him at all,” she said.

They had been told about his two convictions in 1978 in similar circumstances and the prosecution would have them believe it was an open and shut case.

Was it so, or was it the perfect setting for a set-up, she asked?

She said Davies should not be convicted on pure prejudice. They had heard about Davies’ character but not a word yet about the character of the complainants.

Some had criminal convictions, serious mental health conditions, and addictions to drugs and alcohol, she said.

Miss Griffiths said the defence simply asked for nothing less than a fair trial.

The case before Judge Huw Rees is proceeding and is listed for five or six weeks.