A HEADTEACHER of a Bangor secondary school said he did “absolutely not” have sexual contact with children as he began giving evidence at his trial.

Neil Foden, 66, of Gwynant, Old Colwyn, has stood trial at Mold Crown Court since April 22, having been charged with the following:

  • 13 counts of sexual activity with a child.
  • Two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
  • Causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
  • Possessing indecent images of a child.
  • Sexual assault of a child.
  • Sexual communication with a child.
  • Attempting to arrange the commission of a child sexual offence.

His charges relate to alleged incidents dating between April 2019 and September 2023, with five different alleged victims.

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Today (May 7), Foden took to the witness stand to start giving his evidence, as he was questioned by Duncan Bould, the barrister representing him.

During his evidence, it was put to Foden that his office had “blind spots”, but he said he never used those corners of the room to “hide people”.

In the case of one child, Foden said his physical contact with them extended to “putting my arm around them” and “holding their hand” on a couple of occasions because they were “tearful”.

He acknowledged hugging another child, who claimed they had a “relationship” with Foden, as well as putting his arm around their shoulder and holding their hand when they were upset, “to calm and settle them down”.

But, Foden said, physical contact never went beyond this extent, and said the child’s claims of a “relationship” between them were “not true”.

Foden said he “never had sex” with this child, despite the prosecution alleging otherwise, and “couldn’t have done if I wanted to”.

This, he said, was because he has “flirted with the possibility of having prostate cancer” for the last 10 years, and has had symptoms of erectile dysfunction since 2010.

“The rather lurid stories about (us) having sex on the bonnet of a car couldn’t have happened if I wanted it to,” he added.

Foden said that, contrary to the prosecution’s allegations, he did not take any children with him when he travelled to South Wales for trade union meetings.

He said he called another child he is accused of abusing “beautiful”, albeit not during their initial conversations, but said there was “absolutely not” ever any sexual contact between them.

The trial will continue with more of Foden’s evidence tomorrow.