Neil Foden: Concerns raised over head teacher in 2019, court told

Concerns about a head teacher charged with sexual abuse were raised with a council in 2019 who investigated, but no action was taken, a court has heard.

Neil Foden, 66, from Old Colwyn, Conwy county, was in charge of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, and strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes, Gwynedd.

Mold Crown Court heard Mr Foden had previously been reported to Gwynedd's county council - Cyngor Gwynedd.

Mr Foden denies 20 charges against him including sexual activity with a child.

A teacher said he had spoken to the council's director of education because of his concerns over what he described as Mr Foden's inappropriate behaviour with a teenage girl.

He told the court he took the action after warning Mr Foden he was putting himself at risk of accusation.

"He did not appear to take the advice," he said.

It was then that he approached the council's education department director, Garem Jackson.

"Mr Foden… told me he was disappointed I had taken that step," he said.

Later, he said they were both contacted by Mr Jackson who said the case had been investigated and no action was being taken.

"Our relationship was cooler after that," he told the jury, adding he did not notice any change in Mr Foden's behaviour.

The court was also shown CCTV footage that appeared to show Mr Foden and a girl, known only as Child A, walking together to Mr Foden's car, getting in it and driving off.

Earlier the court heard concerns from another teacher, who said she saw a girl getting into his car.

"I thought he was putting himself at risk," she told the court.

She said she and others spoke to Mr Foden about it, but she said "his behaviour didn't change".

Later, she told the jury that she had been been present when a girl, known as Child A, was reporting allegations against Mr Foden.

"She was crying, she kept apologising, she was laughing out of nervousness…she was in quite a state."

She added Child A had been "petrified" because she thought Mr Foden knew something was wrong, as she had refused to meet him the previous day.

She said Child A told her Neil Foden told her to "take the secret to the grave".

Under cross examination, the staff member said she had a "high opinion" of Mr Foden, and had a lot of respect for him as being "uncompromising" and "compassionate".

She said her world had been "turned upside down" by his arrest and the allegations against him.

Mr Foden denies 20 charges against him. The trial continues.