Jenkins may face further charges (From Free Press Series)

Jenkins may face further charges

SEX offender Darren Jenkins could face more charges it emerged this week after details of fresh allegations were passed to police.

Former church worker Jenkins, 27, of Hanbury Road, Pontnewynydd, was jailed for nine months on May 25 after pleading guilty to the indecent assault of a 16-year-old youth last November.

The licensed lay reader and Boys Brigade leader, who took church services in the town, was also banned from working with children indefinitely, and has been placed on the sex offenders' register.

Now the Church in Wales has confirmed the parent of at least one other boy has made a complaint to child protection officers concerning Jenkins, which was passed to Gwent Police last week.

Spokeman for the Monmouth diocese of the church, Janet Bone said: "It came to our attention that a parent was making another allegation and the police were immediately telephoned."

Police say several allegations have now been made, which they are currently looking into.

Chief Inspector Harry Gamlin of Gwent Police said: "As a result of Darren Jenkins' conviction other people have come forward and we are looking at further allegations."

He added that it was too early to comment on whether any new charges would be made.

The Church in Wales launched an investigation into its handling of the Jenkins case following the lay reader's conviction.

It finds itself in the firing line for not doing enough to prevent an assault, after revelations by a former Pontypool vicar and the father of another teenage boy that its officials had been warned about the volunteer's behaviour two years before the assault.

Reverend Graham Sawyer told this paper he repeatedly called for Jenkins to be stopped from working with young people after a father complained about Jenkins sending texts to his 14-year-old son.

The Right Reverend Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth, has invited Children's Commissioner for Wales, Peter Clarke, to comment on the findings of its review, which is being conducted by the diocese's law officer(registrar).