Title

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Council reaches settlement with victims of alleged paedophile

A council has agreed to pay eight victims of an alleged paedophile in an out-of-court settlement.

A council has agreed to pay eight victims of an alleged paedophile in an out-of-court settlement.

The eight men were allegedly abused by Jon Styler when he was a headteacher in schools in Newport and Worcestershire in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Styler denied the allegations and committed suicide in 2007.

He was originally appointed by Newport County Borough Council before his employment was transferred to Gwent County Council.

Neither of these organisations exist now so Newport City Council was left the responsibility to deal with any claims.

A council spokesman said: ‘We can confirm settlements have been agreed in some cases but it would be inappropriate to comment further as two other cases are pending.

‘However, we would like to stress that the allegations in relation to Mr Styler are historical, and there are no links between the schools where he taught many decades ago and those schools today.'

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Connections with clout

By Paul Marinko | 26 February 2026

Ahead of The MJ’s LATCo Conference in Birmingham, Paul Marinko explores why local authority trading companies (LATCos) are fast becoming indispensable to cou...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

A pivotal moment for mayors

By Ann McGauran | 25 February 2026

The recent devolution Bill and the Government’s consultation on visitor levies are seen as positive steps on the road to fiscal devolution, but does it go fa...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Government using strategic planning agenda to speed up devo

By Joe Lepper | 18 February 2026

Concerns have been raised over the Government’s use of its strategic planning agenda to speed up decisions around devolution in areas that have yet decide on...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Local government finance settlement leaves sector divided

By Martin Ford | 17 February 2026

The most controversial local government finance settlement for years has divided the sector. Martin Ford looks at the fallout.

Popular articles by William Eichler