Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge denies the charges

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

Gordon Wateridge, 78, used his job at the Haut de la Garenne home to touch teenage girls in a sexual manner, Jersey's Royal Court was told.

He is charged with 19 counts of indecent assault relating to five victims between 1970 and 1974.

Mr Wateridge, who lives in the parish of St Clement, denies the charges.

He is also charged with one count of assault against a 12 or 13-year-old boy and one count of incitement to indecent assault against a 12 or 13-year-old girl.

The court was told he would grope girls' breasts, kiss them on the neck and, in one instance, forced his hand inside an alleged victim's underwear.

The alleged attacks led to children at the home nicknaming Mr Wateridge "The Perv", the jury was told.

'Bear hugs'

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

He said: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

As he opened the case, Mr Baker advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.


He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone
Alleged victim

Mr Baker said Mr Wateridge would use his strength to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

On other occasions he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

The court heard he would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

One of the alleged victims told the court that she had been left feeling "dirty" after being groped by him.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 53 and revealed girls at the home referred to Wateridge as "Perv".

She said: "He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone."

"He would do things like smacking your bottom, grabbing you and giving you bear-hugs. It was all very impersonal."

She added: "When he grabbed you from behind, he would more often than not touch your breasts in some way."

When asked how she felt at the time about it, she replied: "It made me feel dirty, to be honest."

The trial continues.

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge denies the charges

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

Gordon Wateridge, 78, used his job at the Haut de la Garenne home to touch teenage girls in a sexual manner, Jersey's Royal Court was told.

He is charged with 19 counts of indecent assault relating to five victims between 1970 and 1974.

Mr Wateridge, who lives in the parish of St Clement, denies the charges.

He is also charged with one count of assault against a 12 or 13-year-old boy and one count of incitement to indecent assault against a 12 or 13-year-old girl.

The court was told he would grope girls' breasts, kiss them on the neck and, in one instance, forced his hand inside an alleged victim's underwear.

The alleged attacks led to children at the home nicknaming Mr Wateridge "The Perv", the jury was told.

'Bear hugs'

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

He said: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

As he opened the case, Mr Baker advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.


He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone
Alleged victim

Mr Baker said Mr Wateridge would use his strength to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

On other occasions he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

The court heard he would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

One of the alleged victims told the court that she had been left feeling "dirty" after being groped by him.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 53 and revealed girls at the home referred to Wateridge as "Perv".

She said: "He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone."

"He would do things like smacking your bottom, grabbing you and giving you bear-hugs. It was all very impersonal."

She added: "When he grabbed you from behind, he would more often than not touch your breasts in some way."

When asked how she felt at the time about it, she replied: "It made me feel dirty, to be honest."

The trial continues.

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge denies the charges

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

Gordon Wateridge, 78, used his job at the Haut de la Garenne home to touch teenage girls in a sexual manner, Jersey's Royal Court was told.

He is charged with 19 counts of indecent assault relating to five victims between 1970 and 1974.

Mr Wateridge, who lives in the parish of St Clement, denies the charges.

He is also charged with one count of assault against a 12 or 13-year-old boy and one count of incitement to indecent assault against a 12 or 13-year-old girl.

The court was told he would grope girls' breasts, kiss them on the neck and, in one instance, forced his hand inside an alleged victim's underwear.

The alleged attacks led to children at the home nicknaming Mr Wateridge "The Perv", the jury was told.

'Bear hugs'

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

He said: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

As he opened the case, Mr Baker advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.


He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone
Alleged victim

Mr Baker said Mr Wateridge would use his strength to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

On other occasions he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

The court heard he would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

One of the alleged victims told the court that she had been left feeling "dirty" after being groped by him.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 53 and revealed girls at the home referred to Wateridge as "Perv".

She said: "He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone."

"He would do things like smacking your bottom, grabbing you and giving you bear-hugs. It was all very impersonal."

She added: "When he grabbed you from behind, he would more often than not touch your breasts in some way."

When asked how she felt at the time about it, she replied: "It made me feel dirty, to be honest."

The trial continues.

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge denies the charges

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

Gordon Wateridge, 78, used his job at the Haut de la Garenne home to touch teenage girls in a sexual manner, Jersey's Royal Court was told.

He is charged with 19 counts of indecent assault relating to five victims between 1970 and 1974.

Mr Wateridge, who lives in the parish of St Clement, denies the charges.

He is also charged with one count of assault against a 12 or 13-year-old boy and one count of incitement to indecent assault against a 12 or 13-year-old girl.

The court was told he would grope girls' breasts, kiss them on the neck and, in one instance, forced his hand inside an alleged victim's underwear.

The alleged attacks led to children at the home nicknaming Mr Wateridge "The Perv", the jury was told.

'Bear hugs'

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

He said: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

As he opened the case, Mr Baker advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.


He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone
Alleged victim

Mr Baker said Mr Wateridge would use his strength to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

On other occasions he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

The court heard he would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

One of the alleged victims told the court that she had been left feeling "dirty" after being groped by him.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now 53 and revealed girls at the home referred to Wateridge as "Perv".

She said: "He made out that everything was a joke but he really was not very nice to anyone."

"He would do things like smacking your bottom, grabbing you and giving you bear-hugs. It was all very impersonal."

She added: "When he grabbed you from behind, he would more often than not touch your breasts in some way."

When asked how she felt at the time about it, she replied: "It made me feel dirty, to be honest."

The trial continues.

Jersey carer 'was sexual bully'

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge, a carer at the former Haut de la Garenne children's home in Jersey, was a "persistent sexual bully" who repeatedly abused youngsters in his care, a court heard.


10 Aug 2009
A general view of the former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey: Man admits sexually abusing boys at Jersey's Haut de la Garenne care home
The former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey Photo: JANE MINGAY

Wateridge allegedly used his position of authority at Haut de la Garenne to sexually touch teenage girls.

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 with 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 advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.

He 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.

But Wateridge abused his responsibility to look after them, Mr Baker said.

He explained: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

Mr Baker said Wateridge would use his strength and size to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

In other incidents, he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

He would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

When the brother of one girl told Wateridge to leave his sister alone, the carer responded by throwing the 15-year-old boy to the ground and pulling his hair, it was alleged.

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge, a carer at the former Haut de la Garenne children's home in Jersey, was a "persistent sexual bully" who repeatedly abused youngsters in his care, a court heard.


10 Aug 2009
A general view of the former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey: Man admits sexually abusing boys at Jersey's Haut de la Garenne care home
The former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey Photo: JANE MINGAY

Wateridge allegedly used his position of authority at Haut de la Garenne to sexually touch teenage girls.

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 with 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 advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.

He 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.

But Wateridge abused his responsibility to look after them, Mr Baker said.

He explained: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

Mr Baker said Wateridge would use his strength and size to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

In other incidents, he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

He would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

When the brother of one girl told Wateridge to leave his sister alone, the carer responded by throwing the 15-year-old boy to the ground and pulling his hair, it was alleged.

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'

Gordon Wateridge, a carer at the former Haut de la Garenne children's home in Jersey, was a "persistent sexual bully" who repeatedly abused youngsters in his care, a court heard.


10 Aug 2009
A general view of the former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey: Man admits sexually abusing boys at Jersey's Haut de la Garenne care home
The former children's home, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey Photo: JANE MINGAY

Wateridge allegedly used his position of authority at Haut de la Garenne to sexually touch teenage girls.

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 with 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 advised the jury to ignore "lurid" reporting in the press about Haut de la Garenne.

He 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.

But Wateridge abused his responsibility to look after them, Mr Baker said.

He explained: "It is the prosecution case that Mr Wateridge abused that position of responsibility in respect of the children in his care named in the indictment. He was a bully and he used his position of authority to touch girls in his care in a sexual fashion.

"As you hear the evidence, you may conclude that he was a persistent sexual bully, frequently touching young teenage girls in a sexual manner."

Mr Baker said Wateridge would use his strength and size to overpower the girls by giving them inappropriate "bear hugs".

In other incidents, he would sit on a snooker table at the home, grab girls walking past and pull them towards him.

He would place his mouth on the girl's neck and then allegedly grope the victim.

When the brother of one girl told Wateridge to leave his sister alone, the carer responded by throwing the 15-year-old boy to the ground and pulling his hair, it was alleged.

Haut de la Garenne: Jersey care home worker was 'sexual bully'