Briton preyed on Ethiopian orphans

A British former aid worker has been jailed for nine years in Ethiopia for 14 sex offences against orphans.

David Allan, 62, committed a string of sex attacks while running an orphanage for a Swiss charity in the northern village of Jari.

He was found guilty and sentenced at a court in Addis Ababa.

The offences happened in 1995, when he was responsible for the care of 300 orphans.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "Mr Allan was found guilty in 14 cases of having sex with minors.

"He was sentenced to nine years from the date he first entered prison, nearly two years ago.

"A member of the British Embassy was present at the sentencing hearing on August 6.

"Normal consular assistance will continue for Mr Allan and the Vice Consul is due to visit him shortly."

Ill health

Allan, formerly known as David Christie and originally from Bournemouth, was sacked by the Swiss charity, Terre des Hommes Lausanne, in 1997, after admitting the offences.

But he escaped prison by fleeing to Britain where he changed his name.

It took another six years, until August 2001, before he was arrested over the offences.

Allan was initially apprehended on an international arrest warrant in Zambia, where it is believed he was planning to set up a children's home.

Then he was arrested by Ethiopian authorities in Addis Ababa en route to London by plane.

His trial began in October 2001 but was postponed on several occasions due to his poor health.