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Care boss on sex charges

Sep 27 2009 Sunday Sun

A FORMER director of social services has been charged with sexually assaulting teenage boys at a North children’s centre.

Dr Rod Ryall, 67, of Mirfield, West Yorkshire, will appear before magistrates next month accused of 13 offences, some dating back more than 40 years.

He is charged with indecent assault and gross indecency against two 15-year-old boys at the former Aycliffe Approved School, in County Durham, between 1967 and 1970, and a 13-year-old boy in West Yorkshire between 1975 and 1977.

The Oxford graduate, who was a scout leader at the time of the later alleged offences, spent most of his career working with children and now lives in West Yorkshire.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “A 67-year-old man from Mirfield, West Yorkshire, was charged with 13 sex offences, some dating back more than 40 years.

“Between 1967 and 1970, he is accused of a total of six offences of indecent assault and four of gross indecency.

“His alleged victims were two 15-year-old boys at the former Aycliffe Approved School, in County Durham.

“He has been charged with a further two counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency alleged on a 13-year-old boy in West Yorkshire between 1975 and 1977.

“At that time, the man was said to have been a scout leader.”

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