Brushett loses abuse appeal

Brushett worked at the Bryn-y-Don home

Welsh Office social services inspector Derek Brushett has lost an appeal against his conviction of abusing boys at a school for children in care, where he was head teacher during the 1970s.

But the Court of Appeal in London reduced his 14-year jail sentence to 12 years and three months.

Derek Brushett: Sentence reduced

Father-of-four Brushett, 56, was convicted in November last year of a catalogue of sexual and physical abuse on 17 boys, aged between 11 and 16.

The incidents happened at Bryn-y-Don school, Dinas Powys, near Cardiff, between 1974 and 1980.

He was acquitted on other charges.

His lawyers and supporters claimed he was an innocent victim of a "trawl" by police seeking evidence in their Operation Goldfinch inquiry into abuse at children's homes in Wales.

'Secret' documents

They also say that he was denied a fair trial because documents potentially vital to his defence were kept secret.

It was also argued that there were glaring inconsistencies in the evidence given by the complainants.

Brushett's supporters said that these issues were not adequately dealt with by Judge Peter Jacobs in his summing-up to the jury at Cardiff Crown Court.