DETECTIVES investigating allegations of historic abuse at a former children’s centre in Monmouthshire have brought 26 further charges against two men.
The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised additional counts against Angus Riddell and Robin Griffiths, who already faced a combined total of 45 charges.
Riddell, 69, of Cwmbach in Rhondda Cynon Taf, was arrested on 24 February and is now accused of 21 further offences. These include two counts of rape of a girl under 16, one count of gross indecency with a girl under 14, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16, one count of indecent assault on a boy under 14, and 14 counts relating to assault, ill-treatment, neglect or abandonment of a child or young person causing unnecessary suffering or injury.
He had previously been charged with 38 offences in June 2025.
Griffiths, 66, originally from Blaenau Gwent but now living in Bideford, Devon, was arrested on 23 February and faces five additional charges — three counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 and two counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14. He had earlier been charged with seven offences.
Both men have been released on bail and are due before magistrates in March in connection with the new allegations. They previously pleaded not guilty to the original charges, and a trial date has been set for January 2027.
The charges arise from Operation Spinney, an investigation led by Gwent Police into claims by several men and women that they were sexually and physically abused as children, mainly at the former Coed Glas Assessment Centre in Abergavenny during the 1970s to 1990s.
At the time, the centre was run by the former Gwent local authority. It closed in 1995.
Detective Chief Superintendent Andrew Tuck said the force’s priority remained supporting victims and working with partner agencies.
“We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and local authorities as part of this long-running investigation,” he said. “We take all reports of child abuse seriously and would urge anyone who has suffered abuse, or who has concerns about someone who may be suffering, to come forward and speak to the police.”
Earlier this month, the CPS authorised charges against two other people linked to the inquiry. Lisa Gething, 59, of Abergavenny — a social worker employed by Caerphilly County Borough Council — faces four counts of assault, ill-treatment, neglect or abandonment of a child or young person causing unnecessary suffering or injury.
Simon Bevan, 55, of Caerphilly, has been charged with two counts of the same offence. Both are on bail and are due to appear at Newport Crown Court.
Anyone with information about Operation Spinney is urged to contact police, who say details of support services are available via their website.
