Two men have been charged with 72 offences – 24 of which are sexual – in relation to abuse of dozens of boys at a Shefford boys’ home.
A 79-year-old man from Swaffham in Norfolk has been charged with 66 offences – 18 sexual and 48 physical – which are alleged to have taken place at St Francis Boys’ Home between 1963 and 1974. The 25 boys were aged between five and 16.
A 73-year-old man from Bedford has also been charged with six sexual offences against four boys aged between 11 and 16.
Both men will appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court on 30 November.
An investigation into alleged abuse at the home – which was run by the Northampton diocese of the Catholic Church until it shut in 1974 – was closed by Bedfordshire Police in November 2013, before being reopened a month later after new information was received.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here