Operation Seabrook: Seven men appear in court charged with abuse

19/12/2017

 

SEVEN men have appeared in court following an investigation into allegations of abuse of young men at a former detention centre. 

The men, who are all former staff members at Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, December 19).

Christopher Onslow, 71, John McGee, 73, Brian Johnson Greenwell, 70 and Neil Sowerby, 61, face charges of misconduct in a public office, physical abuse and sexual offences.

David McClure, 62, Alan Bramley, 69, and Kevin Blakely, 65, face charges of misconduct in a public office and physical abuse only.  

Their addresses cannot be reported for legal reasons.

No pleas were entered and all seven men were released on unconditional bail to attend Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, January 16.

The investigation – named Operation Seabrook – was launched in August 2013 and is one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

So far, more than 1,500 men have contacted the Operation Seabrook team to report allegations of either sexual or physical assaults while detained at Medomsley from the 1960s to when the centre closed in 1988.

Anyone who believes they are a victim and has not already contacted the police should call Durham Constabulary on 101 or email operation.seabrook@durham.pnn.police.uk 

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Seven former Medomsley prison officers in court charged with historic abuse

Seven men appeared in Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court over abuse and assault claims dating back to the 1970s

20:49, 19 DEC 2017

Former prison officers Neil Sowerby, Kevin Blakey, Christopher Onslow, Alan Bramley, David McClure, John McGee and Johnson Brian Greenwell (Image: PA Wire)

Seven former prison officers who worked at a detention centre have appeared in court charged with abusing teenage inmates in the 1970s and 1980s.

The ex-staff members who worked at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

The court did not release the defendants’ addresses following a court application on their behalf.
None of the complainants can be identified.

All the former prison officers are charged with misconduct in a public office and physical abuse. Four of them are also charged with sex offences.

Former detainees were also in court for the brief hearing which was before District Judge Helen Cousins.

The defendants are:

• Kevin Blakey, 65, charged with two counts of misconduct, two counts of wounding and two of assault.
  
• Alan Bramley, 69, charged with misconduct, wounding and two counts of assault.
  
• Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70, charged with misconduct, buggery without consent, false imprisonment and two counts of assault.
  
• David McClure, 62, charged with misconduct, wounding and four counts of assault.
  
• John McGee, 73, charged with misconduct, four counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault, buggery without consent and wounding.
  
• Christopher Onslow, 71, charged with two counts of misconduct, two of buggery without consent, two counts of wounding, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault and one of indecent assault.
  
• Neil Sowerby, 60, charged with misconduct, three counts of buggery without consent, two counts of assault and four counts of indecent assault.

The charges follow a long-running investigation into the detention centre which was closed in 1988.
The district judge adjourned the case and the defendants were given unconditional bail to appear before Teesside Crown Court on January 16.

Source

Seven former prison officers in court over alleged abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre

Seven former prison officers who worked at a detention centre have appeared in court charged with abusing teenage inmates in the 1970s and 1980s.

The ex-staff members who worked at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court.

 John McGee, 73

 Youths from around the North East were detained at the centre. The court did not release the defendants' addresses following a court application on their behalf. None of the complainants can be identified.

All the former prison officers are charged with misconduct in a public office and physical abuse. Four of them are also charged with sex offences.

Neil Sowerby, 60

Former detainees were also in court for the brief hearing which was before District Judge Helen Cousins. The defendants are

Kevin Blakey, 65, charged with two counts of misconduct, two counts of wounding and two of assault. ::

Alan Bramley, 69, charged with misconduct, wounding and two counts of assault.

 Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70, charged with misconduct, buggery without consent, false imprisonment and two counts of assault
 

David McClure, 62, charged with misconduct, wounding and four counts of assault.

John McGee, 73, charged with misconduct, four counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault, buggery without consent and wounding. ::

Christopher Onslow, 71, charged with two counts of misconduct, two of buggery without consent, two counts of wounding, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault and one of indecent assault.

Kevin Blakey, 65 Neil Sowerby, 60, charged with misconduct, three counts of buggery without consent, two counts of assault and four counts of indecent assault. The charges follow a long-running investigation into the detention centre which was closed in 1988.

The district judge adjourned the case and the defendants were given unconditional bail to appear before Teesside Crown Court on January 16. Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70 Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70 Christopher Onslow, 71 Christopher Onslow, 71 David McClure, 62 David McClure, 62

Source

Medomsley Detention Centre: Seven men in court charged with abuse Graeme Hetheington

SEVEN men have appeared in court following one of the country's biggest inquiries into sexual and physical abuse.

The men who worked at Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett, County Durham, appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court today.

Christopher Onslow, 71, John McGee, 73, Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70, and Neil Sowerby, 61, face charges of misconduct in public office, physical abuse and sexual offences.

David McClure, 62, Alan Bramley, 69, and Kevin Blakey, 65, face charges of misconduct in public office and physical abuse charges only.

Their addresses cannot be reported for legal reasons.

The charges arises from an investigation – named Operation Seabrook – which was launched in August 2013 and is one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

All seven defendants spoke only to confirm their name and date of birth.

None entered pleas and were all released on unconditional bail to attend Teesside Crown Court on January 16.

Medomsley closed in 1988. Teenage inmates at the young offenders' centre typically spent six to eight weeks at the Home Office-run facility before being released.

Such offending would now typically be dealt with by community punishment.

Source

Medomsley Detention Centre: Seven former prison officers appear in court

The detention centre housed Teesside inmates :: The alleged offences date back to the 1970s and 1980s

Evening Gazette20:00, 19 DEC 2017 

Updated20:46, 

19 DEC 2017

 

 

Former prison officers Neil Sowerby, Kevin Blakey, Christopher Onslow, Alan Bramley, David McClure, John McGee and Johnson Brian Greenwell

 

Seven former prison officers who worked at a detention centre have appeared in court charged with the abuse of teenage inmates in the 1970s and 1980s.
The ex-staff members worked at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham, which housed Teesside inmates.

They appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.
The court did not release the defendants’ addresses following a court application on their behalf.

All the former prison officers are charged with misconduct in a public office and physical abuse.

Four of them are also charged with sex offences.

John McGee, 73, one of seven former prison officers who worked at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham (Image: PA)

Former detainees were also in court for the brief hearing which was before District Judge Helen Cousins.

The defendants are:

• Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70, charged with misconduct, a serious sex assault without consent, false imprisonment and two counts of assault,
• John McGee, 73, charged with misconduct, four counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault, a serious sex assault without consent, and wounding,
• Christopher Onslow, 71, charged with two counts of misconduct, two of a serious sex assault without consent, two counts of wounding, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault, and one of indecent assault,
• Neil Sowerby, 60, charged with misconduct, three counts of a serious sex assault without consent, two counts of assault and four counts of indecent assault,
• Kevin Blakey, 65, charged with two counts of misconduct, two counts of wounding and two of assault,
• Alan Bramley, 69, charged with misconduct, wounding and two counts of assault,
• David McClure, 62, charged with misconduct, wounding and four counts of assault.

The charges follow a long-running investigation into the detention centre which was closed in 1988.

The district judge adjourned the case and the defendants were given unconditional bail to appear before Teesside Crown Court on January 16.

Source


 

Medomsley detention centre: Former officers in court

Clockwise from top left; Kevin Blakey, Alan Bramley, Johnson Brian Greenwell, David McClure, John McGee, Christopher Onslow, Neil Sowerby 

Seven former officers at a youth detention centre have appeared in court charged with abusing inmates during the 1970s and 1980s.

Nearly 1,400 men have claimed they were abused at Medomsley, in County Durham.
The seven men have been charged with misconduct and physical abuse, with four also accused of sex offences.
No pleas were entered at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court and they were bailed to appear before Teesside Crown Court on 16 January.
The defendants and their charges are:

• Kevin Blakey, 65, two counts of misconduct, two counts of wounding, and two of assault
• Alan Bramley, 69, misconduct, wounding, and two counts of assault
• Johnson Brian Greenwell, 70, misconduct, serious sexual assault, false imprisonment, and two counts of assault
• David McClure, 62, misconduct, wounding, and four counts of assault
• John McGee, 73, misconduct, four counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault, serious sexual assault, and wounding
• Christopher Onslow, 71, two counts of misconduct, two of serious sexual assault, two counts of wounding, two counts of wounding with intent, three counts of assault, and one of indecent assault
• Neil Sowerby, 60, misconduct, three counts of serious sexual assault, two counts of assault and four counts of indecent assault

Source