Inquiry to look into George Thomas sex assault allegations
THREE allegations of sexual assault against the late Cardiff MP and Commons Speaker George Thomas – including one that he raped a nine-year-old boy in the Welsh capital – have been referred by South Wales Police to an investigation into historic sex abuse, we can reveal.
The move comes four years after a man now living in Australia made a complaint that he had been abused at home in the late 1960s and early 70s by the politician who had befriended his foster parents.
In 2014 his alleged victim, then 55, told the Daily Mirror: “I was raped by George Thomas in Cardiff. I was about nine.
“He spent a lot of time at my house as my parents were good friends with him.
“Things started small but then got a lot worse.”
He said the alleged abuse was also carried out at another address in the city.
The alleged victim said his foster parents were Labour Party supporters.
He added: “We went on many campaigns for Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan and George Thomas.”
He said he had to report the rape claim to South Wales Police on two occasions, adding that he was disappointed by the response from officers.
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland said in 2014: “We were made aware of these allegations in April 2013 and have attempted to get in touch with the victim.
“Unfortunately incorrect contact information was used. As a result we failed to make contact.
“We have since spoken to the victim, apologised for the delay and are investigating his claims.
“This delay was unacceptable and we have referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”
A spokeswoman for the IPCC told us it had referred the complaint back to South Wales Police.
Another of the allegations of sexual assault against Thomas was made by a male who said he had been touched inappropriately by Thomas on a train.
A spokesman for South Wales Police told us South Wales Police had taken the investigations into the complaints as far as they could. They were now passing their completed files to Operation Hydrant, an over-arching UK-wide investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by celebrities and politicians.
Thomas, who was previously a teacher, was elected MP for Cardiff Central in 1945.
Later, after boundary changes, he became MP for Cardiff West until his retirement from the Commons in 1983.
In the late 1960s he was Secretary of State for Wales, playing a leading role at the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
He died at the age of 88 in 1997.
“He spent a lot of time at my house as my parents were good friends with him.” Allleged victim