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Welsh Government
The Welsh Government is currently reassessing the process by which it granted a research contract on sexuality and gender to a company whose only director had previously been incarcerated for confessing to three counts of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor while in a position of authority.
James Mullen was incarcerated for eight months in 2013 following his apprehension while engaged in contorted movements on a classroom floor with a female student, aged 16, after a parent-teacher event. After graduating from university, he secured a position as a history teacher at a Catholic boarding school that pays £24,000 a year. However, only six months into his employment, he started manipulating and preparing the students for inappropriate activities.
Their connection was exposed when another teacher witnessed them intensely embrace in the school’s music room around 10 pm. After seeing the girl messily depart the room, she confronted Mullen.
He experienced a sudden emotional collapse and was subsequently apprehended by law enforcement later that evening.
The prosecution informed St Albans Crown Court in Hertfordshire that text messages between them provided evidence that he was aware of the inappropriate nature of the connection. One girl enquired of Mullen, “Is this an act of breaking the law?” When asked about the potential consequences, he responded that you are considered vulnerable and could face significant difficulty due to his role as your teacher.
In addition to the prison term, Mullen was prohibited from teaching for a lifetime.
In 2022, Mullen successfully obtained a PhD in Ancient History. In that particular year, he established a company named Laurel Research Consulting Ltd. After nine months, it was able to get a contract that the Welsh Government granted after a successful bidding process.
Methods of conversion
The contract advertisement stated: “This research aims to gain a deeper understanding of the occurrences of conversion practices in Wales.” Conversion practices encompass all endeavours to alter, adjust, or repress an individual’s sexual orientation, gender, expression of sexual orientation, and/or expression of gender, irrespective of whether they occur within a healthcare, religious, or alternative environment. The research aims to investigate the individuals who undergo conversion practices comprehensively, the various manifestations of these practices, the individuals responsible for conducting them, and the underlying motivations behind their implementation. Additionally, it seeks to identify the specific environments in which conversion practices occur, shed light on the consequences of these practices, assess the available support systems, and offer evidence-based strategies, recommendations, and best practices.
In May 2023, under the leadership of Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt, Laurel was granted the contract despite exhibiting minimal or nonexistent expertise in the field. The Welsh Government’s Equality Report for 2023 indicates that the Welsh Government hired Laurel Research Consulting Ltd to research to gain a more profound knowledge of the encounters with conversion techniques among individuals aged 18 and above in Wales. The findings of this research will be utilised to guide the creation of future policies, customise an awareness campaign, and enhance the design and delivery of support services about conversion practices in Wales.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Mullen’s sole pertinent experience in investigating Conversion Therapy seems to be his contribution to a Westminster All-Party Parliamentary Group that focuses on “reviewing the safeguarding policy.”
Evaluation
In its ruling, the Professional Conduct Panel declared that on July 23, 2013, you were found guilty by the St Albans Crown Court of three counts of engaging in sexual contact with a female juvenile aged between 13 and 17 years old. These acts occurred while you were in a position of trust and did not have a reasonable belief that the victim was over 18 years old. This statement opposes the provisions outlined in section 16 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. You perpetrated these transgressions from February 14, 2013, to February 26, 2013.
On July 23, 2013, you were subjected to a Sexual Offenders Notice and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, both of which will remain in effect for 10 years. You were convicted on August 23, 2013, and received a concurrent eight-month prison term for each charge.
Consequently, Mr Mullen would have still been listed on the sex offenders registry when the Welsh Government appointed him to do the research.
Laurel Research Consulting Ltd. was established on August 12, 2022, when its founder, James Stephen Mullen, left his prior position at the start-up company Melian Dialogue PLC. Laurel now employs three individuals: James Mullen, Boglárka Vincze, who previously worked at Melian for two months, and Lindell Cumes, a young investor from Austria who sold his AI blockchain firm, The Apollinaire Group. It appears that none of the employees possess any pertinent qualifications or substantial expertise in sexuality and gender.
Research Director
Both James Mullen and Jim Coke, the creators of Melian, asserted their position as Head of Research at the same time in mid-2022. According to the company’s financial records, it maintained an average workforce of three people throughout that specific time frame. The company was first established as China Capital Management Ltd in December 2018 and is currently undergoing liquidation.
James Mullen filed a successful lawsuit against Melian for unjust termination. The verdict includes further financial details regarding Laurel, which raises concerns about two loans made by the directors.
We posed many enquiries to the Welsh Government:
How was the research contract allocated to a newly created company with principals with limited experience in the relevant field? Did the Welsh Government know Mr Mullen’s previous criminal behaviour?
- What investigation and research were conducted before the contract was granted?
- What was the remuneration Laurel received for the contract? Has the task been completed?
A representative from the Welsh Government stated that they followed all regular procurement and due diligence procedures when awarding the research contract. However, they will now review the material provided in response to the concerns raised.
The representative stated that the deal was worth £31,000. The research findings will be officially released in autumn 2024, following the publication protocol established by the Government Social Research (GSR).
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.