'Bone' found at Jersey home

Tom Palmer

Police excavating a former Jersey children's home at the centre of a major abuse investigation have found what could be more human remains, officers said today.

Forensic teams searching Haut de la Garenne found items at the site where they discovered part of a child's skull on 23 February. Police said a sniffer dog gave a strong reaction to them, and they were "possibly pieces of bone".

The first picture of a "punishment room" at the former home has been released, revealing a haunting message. On a wooden post against the wall of a secret chamber under the ground floor was written, "I've been bad for years and years".

Police have excavated one underground chamber and believe there could be three more. The chambers have been described by victims as punishment rooms where they were physically and sexually assaulted and kept in solitary confinement.

More than 160 people claim they were abused at Haut de la Garenne over a 40-year period. Lenny Harper, who is leading the police inquiry, said a team of officers was at the port in case of any of the 40 suspects try to leave the island. He said: "Suspects are one thing; we need evidence to convict people."