THE trial of a former deputy principal of a private children’s care home – charged with sexual offences against 11 boys in his charge back in the 1970s – is proceeding in his absence.

Judge Huw Rees, who has been summing the case up in the fifth week of the trial at Mold Crown Court, told the jury not to speculate about the absence of defendant Bryan Davies.

The judge told the jury they would see that the dock was empty because Davies was absent.

“The fact that he is not here does not affect your task at all, which is to decide whether or not he is guilty of the charges against him,” the judge told them.

“You must not speculate. You must not guess the reason why is not there.

"His absence is not evidence against him. You must not hold that against him.

"It must not affect your judgement.”

Judge Rees summed up the law and the facts of the case and is expected to ask the jury to retire to consider its verdicts soon.

Davies, 71, denies 38 sexual 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 back in the 1970s.

He denies offences relating to the making of 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.

A number of men now in their fifties allege that they were sexually abused by Davies when they were children in care.

Davies, of West Redhill, Surrey – but who at the time in the 1970s lived at Penycae near Wrexham – denies the allegations.

Proceeding.