John Owen killed himself before a sex abuse trial could begin

The letter from the leader of Bridgend council, Jeff Jones, attacks the conduct of the Clywch inquiry into allegations of sex abuse by teacher John Owen.

The document - obtained by BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, to be screened on Thursday - has incensed the parents of the alleged victims and could lead to the inquiry being reopened.

John Owen, a drama teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen school near Pontypridd, committed suicide two years ago, just before his trial for sex abuse charges.

The Clywch inquiry has been looking into why there was not a fuller investigation of the allegations against him ten years previously.

When it finished taking evidence last month, Jeff Jones wrote to the Children's Commissioner, who had chaired the inquiry, attacking his handling of it.

Mr Jones claimed that a former education official was being scapegoated. Mr Jones warned that had already complained to First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Mr Clarke will hold a hearing on 22 January to determine whether that amounts to an improper attempt to influence the inquiry and is a contempt of court, which can ultimately lead to imprisonment.

Parents

Mr Jones also accused parents of the alleged victims of putting the Welsh-language before their children.

They have issued a statement repudiating the "baseless and defamatory accusations" which "don't reflect the evidence heard in the inquiry".

Mr Jones is abroad but insists he stands by everything he has written.