Medomsley: Former prison officer 'unfit' to face sex charges

Medical reports submitted on behalf of Alexander Flavell showed that he would be unable to take part in his trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The 89-year-old is also charged with misconduct from his time working at the Medomsley Detention Centre in County Durham.

A jury will still decide on the facts of the charges that the 89-year-old was facing but he is not expected to attend the trial next month.

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Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting, told the judge that a number of the complainants had died before the case reached trial.

Alexander Flavell

Judge Howard Crowson adjourned the case until February 20 when the trial is listed for four days.

Last February, the court heard how co-accused Ian Matthew Nicholson died on December 26, 2021.

Mr Nicholson faced a charge of misconduct in a public office, three counts of a serious sexual offence and four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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Ian Nicholson

Toby Hedworth QC, representing Nicholson, said: “Mr Nicholson strongly refuted these allegations right up until his death.”

At an earlier hearing, the judge imposed a reporting restriction which prevents the media from publishing either of the defendant’s address.

Medomsley Detention Centre closed in 1988 and was intended to house teenagers who had committed relatively minor offences.