Two Medomsley staff prosecuted over historical abuse allegations

Medomsley Detention Centre housed young offenders between the 1960s and 1980s. Credit: Tyne Tees Television

Two further members of staff at the former Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham have been summonsed to court, to face historical allegations of sexually and physically abusing young inmates there.

  • Ian Nicholson, 74 - faces three counts of sexual assault, four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of misconduct in a public office

  • Alexander Flavell, 86 - faces one count of sexual assault, one count of indecent assault, four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of misconduct in a public office

The men are due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on 24 October.

Durham Police says four other men will face no further action.

Operation Seabrook, launched in 2013, has become one of the largest investigations of its kind in the UK.

1,848 men have come forward to the police to report allegations of abuse while they were detained at Medomsley.

Earlier this year, five former prison officers were jailed for a combined total of around 18 years, for physically abusing inmates there in the 1970s and 1980s.

All five men have submitted appeals against their convictions.

Medomsley Detention Centre was built in 1960 and closed in 1988.

Boys aged between 17 and 21 were detained there, normally for short periods, having been convicted of minor offences.