Predatory paedophile ring convicted of 34 sexual offences

Wales
North Wales
Operation Pallial
Mold Crown Court
Thursday 2 July 2015 at 2:04pm

Credit: Geoff Abbott

Five men have been found guilty of a total of 34 sexual offences following an investigation into past child sexual exploitation and abuse in the care system in north Wales.

The five victims in the case were aged between 10 and 15 years of age and were abused by a predatory ring of paedophiles who operated in the Wrexham area during the 1970s and 1980s.

Those convicted were:

George Neil Phoenix, a former bus driver from Wrexham, was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse.
David Lightfoot, aged 72, a publican in Wrexham in the 1980s, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was found guilty of nine offences.
Eddie Huxley, aged 70, a former Wrexham civil servant from Maidenhead, Berkshire. Huxley, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault.
Marc Roy Norry, aged 55, a former local radio presenter from Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, was found guilty of six offences.
Gary Cook - also known as Mark Grainger - aged 64, a former professional wrestler from Leicester was found guilty of 16 counts of sexual abuse.

Two other men, Roger Owen Griffiths, aged 76, a teacher from Wrexham was found not guilty of two counts of sexual abuse and Keith Percy Stokes, aged 62, a former abattoir manager and haulier from Farndon, Chester, was found not guilty of seven charges.

The trial was held at Mold Crown Court. Credit: PA

Ian Mulcahey, Senior Investigating Officer said those convicted had acted as a predatory group of paedophiles, taking advantage of vulnerable young boys.

He said the vast majority of abuse took place primarily at the home of one of the defendants, Gary Cook, in Brymbo. A number of other residential addresses have also featured in the enquiry, together with a former licensed premises known as Snowy’s in Wrexham Town Centre.

The five boys were young, vulnerable, sometimes isolated by family circumstances and manipulated by this group. They were no doubt chosen for these reasons and were groomed using a variety of treats including alcohol, car trips, pornography and above all attention. They were sexually abused and passed around by the group. The range of occupations of these men had could not have been more different, but their real common interest lay in the abuse of young children. Their grooming was carefully planned andcontinued over the period of the victim’s childhoods. The victims in this case have been brave in coming forward, firstly to speak to the Operation Pallial team and latterly to give evidence at court and I would like to personally thank them for the courage they have shown. >

Sentencing will take place on Friday September 25th at Mold Crown Court.