Another former prison officer from Medomsley successfully prosecuted

Former prison officer, Alexander Flavell, who is now 89 years of age, was charged with several offences, including misconduct in a public office, two charges of assault, two charges of indecent assault, and another of buggery.

Alexander Flavell, nicknamed ‘Fatty’, was a former prison officer at Medomsley Detention Centre in Consett, County Durham between 1969 and 1975. The aim of the centre was to provide a ‘short, sharp, shock’ treatment to young offenders aged between 17-21 years and was primarily designed to prevent them from being sent to a mainstream prison, however, allegations began to surface from former inmates who were subjected to sexual, physical and mental abuse from a number of prisons officers whilst they were detained in the centre. 

He becomes the eighth member of staff from Medomsley Detention Centre to be successfully prosecuted for the historic abuse of former inmates.

Flavell worked alongside the chef, Neville Husband, in the kitchens who was convicted of indecent assault and buggery in 2003. He received two prison sentences totalling 10 years and has since died in 2010.

If you experienced abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre but have not yet reported it, please contact Durham Police on 101 or via their dedicated email address at operation.seabrook@durham.pnn.police.uk.