Warder accused of Jersey child abuse faces new charges

Trial of Gordon Wateridge delayed after new alleged victim comes forward

The first person to be charged in connection with a historic child abuse investigation at a Jersey children's home will face a string of new charges, a court heard today.

Gordon Wateridge, a former warder at Haut de la Garenne children's home in St Martin in the 1970s, will face eight additional indecent assault charges after police investigated allegations made by a sixth victim, the Jersey royal court in St Helier heard.

His trial, which was expected to start today, was adjourned to 10 August to enable the new charges to be included.

The 78-year-old, who was born in Croydon, south London, but now lives in the Jersey parish of St Clement, now faces a total of 19 charges of indecent assault and one of incitement to indecent assault, involving five victims between 1970 and 1974.

He is also charged with one count of assault involving a sixth victim. None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

He denies all the charges and was granted bail