Lantern Project

[Graham Wilmer]

Care home worker 'was sexual bully'

Source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090810/tuk-care-home-worker-was-sexual-bully-6323e80.html?printer=1

Monday, August 10 01:02 pm

A carer at a former children's home in Jersey was a "persistent sexual bully" who repeatedly abused youngsters in his care, a court has heard. Skip related content

Gordon Wateridge used his position of authority at the Haut de la Garenne home to touch teenage girls in a sexual manner.

He would grope girls' breasts, kiss them on the neck and, in one instance, forced his hand inside an alleged victim's underwear, Jersey's Royal Court was told.

The alleged attacks led to children at the home nicknaming Wateridge "The Perv".

The 78-year-old is charged with 19 counts of indecent assault and one of incitement to indecent assault relating to five victims between 1970 and 1974.

Wateridge, who arrived at court hidden under a coat and brandishing a walking stick, is also accused of one count of assault involving a sixth victim.

He is the first person to be charged in connection with a historic child abuse investigation on the island.

Wateridge, who was born in Croydon, south London, and now lives in the Jersey parish of St Clement, denies all charges.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Stephen Baker said Wateridge had worked as a house parent at the children's home from 1970 to 1974.

The youngsters sent there were vulnerable and suffered from a variety of problems, the court was told.
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