A FORMER care worker collapsed in a court dock after he was cleared of sexually abusing boys at a Wrexham care home in the 1970s.

A jury found Kevin Poole not guilty at Mold Crown Court of five counts of indecent assault.

It was alleged that Poole had assaulted three residents of the Bryn Alyn community with the charges arising from the Pallial investigation run by the National Crime Agency and North Wales Police.

As the jury foreman announced the final not guilty verdict, there was a loud bang as the 65-year-old fainted in relief and fell hitting his head.

His barrister, Mark Kelly, and his wife rushed back into court and an ambulance was called to the Raikes Lane complex where he received treatment.

During his trial Mr Poole had denied anything sexual took place during his time as a care worker at Bryn Alyn when he was aged in his twenties.

Three complainants, now men in their fifties and sixties, claimed they were subjected to sexual assaults.

One said was he was masturbating in bed when Mr Poole allegedly grabbed hold of his penis.

Another claimed Mr Poole took the boy to clear up after discos that were held at a property in Poyser Street, Wrexham.

He asked him to strip naked and got him to touch his penis after which he would take photographs, claiming the abuse took place around 10 times.

While another complainant alleged he was sexually abused after he went to his room because he had a stomach upset and in a separate incident he claimed Mr Poole got him to masturbate him in a tent.

The court was told Mr Poole had moved from Gloucester to pursue a career in the care industry after finishing his A-levels, but he became disillusioned after his own health suffered.

He said nothing sexual happened between him and the boys.

He said he was responsible for taking tents down at the end of the summer and he had not indulged in sexual activity with the boy in a tent.

Discos had not taken place at Poyser Street until after he had his job, he said, and he denied that anything sexual had taken place there.

A statement from one a social worker of one of the boys, read to the jury, said she had no memory of a complaint the boy made about Mr Poole.

Mr Poole said he had always tried to be kind to the boys because he was aware of the strict regime which, he said, was more like a borstal.

Suggestions he took indecent photographs of boys were pure nonsense, he said.

Mr Poole, of Upton Hill, Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire, had entered not guilty pleas to five counts of indecent assault on a male.