DAVID ALLEN CHRISTIE BUSTED IN BOURNEMOUTH FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABUSE IN ETHIOPIA

In a significant development in international child protection efforts, David Allen, also known as David Christie, a former taxi driver from Bournemouth, has been sentenced to nine years of imprisonment with hard labour for heinous crimes committed abroad. The conviction stems from his involvement in the abuse of orphaned children at a charity refuge center in Ethiopia, where he exploited vulnerable young boys under his care.

Allen, aged 62, was found guilty of 14 separate charges related to the abuse of boys under the age of 15, as well as procuring children for the benefit of his associates. His trial, which concluded in October 2001, was delayed multiple times due to concerns over his health, but the verdict was ultimately delivered by the Ethiopian courts. A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that Allen had been sentenced to nine years in prison, a sentence that began nearly two years prior to the announcement.

Prior to his conviction, Allen was employed by the charity organization Terre des Hommes Lausanne. In 1997, he was dismissed from his position after admitting to engaging in an 'improper sexual relationship' with one of the approximately 300 children residing in the orphanage he had established to aid Ethiopian famine victims. Multiple children from the village also came forward with allegations of abuse, painting a disturbing picture of the extent of Allen’s misconduct.

The Ethiopian high court detailed how Allen had arranged for five boys to be sexually abused by two of his acquaintances, one of whom was identified as a British national. The court described Allen’s abuse as ongoing, with reports indicating that he had assaulted boys daily over several weeks. He reportedly lured the children with sweets and promises of educational opportunities abroad, exploiting their trust and vulnerability.

The tribunal, comprising three judges, explicitly rejected Allen’s plea to serve his sentence in the United Kingdom, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the need for justice to be served locally. His legal representatives indicated that Allen might be eligible for early release on good behavior in 2007 and announced plans to appeal the conviction.

Scotland Yard’s child protection unit, led by Detective Superintendent Peter Spindler, monitored Allen’s activities both in Ethiopia and the UK. Spindler issued a stark warning, stating, “This sentence sends out a strong message to any British paedophile who chooses to go and offend in countries where they think they are out of our grasp. They are not.” The case underscores the ongoing international efforts to combat child abuse and hold offenders accountable, regardless of where their crimes occur.