SCATHING REPORT INTO PAEDOPHILE HEAD TEACHER NEIL FODEN REVEALS THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE MISSED TO PREVENT SOME OF HIS CRIMES

THERE were 52 “missed opportunities” to intervene and stop paedophile head teacher Neil Foden who went on to sexually abuse girls for years.

- By OWEN HUGHES, DAVID POWELL and CHRIS HAINES

Bodycam footage captured the moment Neil Foden was arrested by police. Picture: North Wales Police

(North Wales Police)

A damning report catalogued the failings over several years with issues dating back as far back as 2018.

Despite concerns about inappropriate relationships with children being raised by kids, parents, the NSPCC, a sexual assault referral centre and a social worker Foden continued in his role as head teacher at Ysgol Friars in Bangor.

He was even appointed to an additional role as strategic head at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle.

These concerns continued to be brought to the attention of authorities. It included inappropriate contact with girls and excessive force used in restraint of boys.

His reign of terror finally ended in 2023 when a claim of sexual assault was made by a child and Foden was arrested.

Last year he was jailed for 17 years after being convicted of 19 charges involving four girls.

A Child Practice Review (CPR), led by prominent expert Jan Pickles, has looked into the crimes and yesterday the panel published their 107-page report.

It said repeated warnings about Foden, who it describes as “opportunistic and determined”, were either ignored or inadequately addressed.

Ms Pickles described Foden as “a sophisticated and controlling paedophile” who “created a culture which enabled his offending in plain sight”.

She said safeguarding was a “multi-agency responsibility”, requiring all agencies to contribute to keep children safe and follow agreed legislation, guidance and policies, adding: “In this case, those arrangements failed.”