The former head of a number of children’s homes in north Wales wins appeal following charges of sexual assaults on children in his care thrown out. The 44 charges against John Allen, 60, were thrown out by Judge John Rogers at Knutsford Crown Court in Cheshire. The judge decided that Allen would not be able to have a fair trial because of the publicity surrounding previous court appearances and because of the length of time which had passed since the alleged assaults.