08/08/2003

Aid worker who preyed on orphans jailed

A former aid worker from Britain has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of 14 sex offences against orphans in Ethiopia.

The series of offences took place in 1995 when 62-year-old David Allen was in charge of an orphanage run by a Swiss charity.

Subsequently sacked by the charity, it is understood that he fled to Britain, changed his name and evaded capture for six years until he was arrested on an international warrant in Zambia.

He was found guilty at a court hearing in Addis Ababa earlier this week.

Sentenced to nine years, Allen has already served two years in custody awaiting trial.

A Foreign Office Spokesperson confirmed that as per standard procedures Allen had received representation from the British Consulate at the hearing in Addis Ababa.

In 2001 following the charges brought against Allen in Ethiopia, Swiss charity Terre des Hommes said that a support programme had been implemented for 11 children following evidence of abuse by a “former British delegate”.

In 2001 the charity organisation said further claims in the media of what it called “unsubstantiated allegations of abuse” were unfounded.

Following a later UNHCR report on alleged sexual exploitation of children in West Africa by staff of humanitarian organisations, the Terre des hommes Foundation said it was not one of the 40 organisations mentioned in the report.

(SP)

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