REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has welcomed the jailing of paedophile John Allen for sexually assaulting youngsters at Wrexham care homes.

As part of an inquiry into allegations of abuse centering on children's homes in north Wales John Allen, 73, fromNeedham Market in Suffolk, had denied 40 counts of sex abuse against 19 boys and one girl in the late 1960s up to the early 1990s.

He was sentenced earlier this week after being convicted of 33 charges last week.

Allen, who ran children's homes in Wrexham, must serve a minimum of 11 years in jail.

He was cleared of two charges and one alternative charge was dropped.

At the time of the original investigation into child abuse at children's homes Mrs Lumley was a Clwyd county councillor representing Wrexham.

She said: "I’m pleased that John Allen has been brought to justice. I’m sure my constituents will have been as disgusted as I have by the reports of his abuses.

"He caused anguish and misery over a long period of time."

The MP, who has previously welcomed inquiries into the scandal, was part of the panel that looked at the original report into the allegations, which was never published.

Speaking in the Commons last year about the report she described its contents as “horrendous” and said that no stone should be left unturned in the quest for closure.

Mrs Lumley added: "The number of historic sex offences coming to light is truly horrifying and I hope that more prosecutions will follow, bringing some peace to those who have suffered and are still suffering.”

Alleged abuse centering on children's homes, including the former Bryn Estyn children's home in Wrexham, began to emerge in the 1990s.

They were highlighted again in 2012 when Theresa May announced a new police inquiry into the allegations.