Neil Foden: Ex-Bangor head not part of early prison release scheme

Foden, who was head of Ysgol Friars and strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, was jailed for 17 years in July after being convicted of 19 offences of sexual abuse against four child victims between 2019 and 2023.

He will be released from custody after he has served two-thirds of this prison sentence, after he which he will be on licence but at risk of recall to prison.

But in Parliament yesterday (October 22), Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts sought assurances that Foden, 67, will not be released early as part of the government’s strategy to tackle prison overcrowding.

She asked the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood KC MP: “Can she advise me how to seek assurances for his victims that Foden won’t be released until he has served two-thirds of his sentence?”

In response, the justice secretary answered: “I can confirm that all sex offences of all types are excluded from the SDS40 measures.”

More than 1,000 prisoners are being released early under the SDS40 measures, where offenders sentenced to more than five years in jail are being released on licence after serving 40 per cent of their time in prison.

Though, this scheme excludes prisoners convicted of serious violence, sex crimes and terrorism.

Sentencing Foden at Mold Crown Court in July, Judge Rhys Rowlands barred him from working with children or vulnerable individuals, and made him subject to sex offenders register notification requirements, for life.

Foden was also handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Rowlands told Foden that his behaviour was "cynical" and "depraved", and that warranted “significant punishment”.

He labelled Foden a "bully”, and said the course of events during his trial depicted him as "forceful" and "extremely confident in his own ability", who believed he could "get away with pretty much anything", and who "cared little for the opinions of others".