Historic sex officences claim
The former owner of children's homes in the North Wales area has appeared in court charged with a series of historic sex offences against boys.
Defendant John Ernest Allen, 77, appeared at Mold Crown Court via video link to deny all the allegations against him.
Judge Rhys Rowlands adjourned the case for trial - which is expected to last four to five weeks - in September or October.
Allen of Needham Market in Ipswich, is facing a total of 21 charges brought following an investigation by The National Crime Agency under Operation Pallial into allegations of sexual assault within the care system in the region.
He is charged with 17 offences of indecent assault, two charges of an illegal sex act and two charges of attempting to commit an illegal sex act.
The court was told that there were eight complainants, two of whom were deceased.
The dates of the allegations mainly span a period between 1976 and 1984 although one charge is dated between 1990 and 1992.
Judge Rowlands told the defendant that the trial would either start on September 30 or October 14, depending which judge would try it. A decision will be made within a week.
The judge also said that at some stage the prosecution would have to explain a four year delay in the case.He said that there had been inordinate delays.
"I cannot understand how in this sort of case it takes years and years for someone to decide that someone should be prosecuted," he said.
