Former school principal sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing girls

A former high school principal who had a “sexual obsession” with young girls has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Neil Foden, 66, who worked at a school in north Wales, was found guilty in May of 19 offences relating to the abuse of four girls over a four-year period.

Passing sentence at Mold Crown Court on Monday, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “Your behaviour arose from your arrogant self-esteem and your belief that no one could stand up to you.”

He said Foden was “determined” to satisfy his “perverse desires”, which included a urination fetish.

He described Foden as a “domineering” and “bombastic” character who was looked up to by many, but who managed to “hide a terrible secret, a horrific character flaw, namely his sexual obsession with young teenage girls”.

The judge said: “It is clear that you feel no remorse. You have not shown the slightest hint of remorse for your actions and you have no insight into the undoubtedly very serious harm you have caused to the individual victims and their families.”

Two of his victims appeared in court to give detailed statements about the impact the abuse had on them.

One said: “He has taken advantage of both my body and my mind and it has left me feeling tired and constantly sick.”

Another victim said: “I feel like he wanted to hurt me because I reported him when he forced me to appear in court and give my testimony. Instead of justice, he wanted revenge.”

In a statement read to the court, another of the girls abused by Foden said: “I believed him when he said he loved me and I was the only one he wanted.”

She added: “What Mr Foden did is evil. It hit me hard and I will never forgive him.”

Foden shook his head at times as the victims’ statements were read out, but showed no emotion when the verdict was announced.

He was also ordered to pay £4,000 in legal costs.

During his trial, the court was shown a video of the defendant holding the hand of one of the girls, Child A, as she sat in the back seat of his car while he sat in the driver’s seat.

Foden, who was previously a board member of the National Education Union, was arrested after Child A showed an adult a photo of them together and screenshots of messages about oral sex.

The court heard he would pick them up in his car and drive them to remote areas.

Another complainant, Child E, told police she referred to Foden as “Mr. P,” which means perfect, while he called her “his little sex toy.”

She also described meeting the defendant in his BMW, which had personalized number plates, and driving to remote lay-bys and country roads “so he could play with me.”

After Foden’s arrest, police later found a pair of purple and black lace handcuffs in the trunk of his car, which contained DNA spikes matching that of Foden and the teen.

Foden was found guilty of pinching Child B on the thigh, putting his hand under her clothing and placing his hands on the inner thighs of Child C.

Defence lawyer Duncan Bould said Foden had made a positive contribution to the lives of others during his career as a teacher and union representative.

He said: “All these achievements have now been lost to him because of his own conduct, as has his reputation.”

The court heard that concerns about Foden had previously been raised with Gwynedd Council but no investigation had taken place.

A council spokeswoman said an independent review would take place following his conviction.

Foden, of Old Colwyn in north Wales, was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual conduct with a child, two counts of sexual conduct with a child in a position of trust and one count each of causing or inciting sexual conduct with children, attempting to arrange the commission of a child sexual offence, sexual communication with a child, possession of indecent photographs of a child and sexual assault of a child.

He was acquitted of the charge of sexual acts with a child, in connection with which he is said to have touched the bottom of child D.