Man admits Jersey care home abuse

A man has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing boys at a Jersey care home.

Michael Aubin admitted two counts of gross indecency and two counts of indecent assault on children under 10-years-old at Haut de la Garenne.

The Jersey-born cleaner, 46, from Southampton, Hampshire, carried out the attacks while a teenager at the home in the 1970s.

He pleaded guilty at Jersey's Royal Court, having earlier denied three further counts of indecent assault.

They will be dealt with after Aubin is sentenced on 22 June.

Stephen Baker, prosecuting, said the pleas were accepted after "detailed discussions" with the police and the victims in the case.

"Each [of the complainants] is in agreement with the position the Crown is to take," he said.

This was a very disturbed young man in his teens - quite what was going through his mind is impossible to tell

Prosecutor Stephen Baker

Aubin is the first person to be convicted following a wide-ranging police investigation into historic child abuse on the island.

It centred on the Haut de la Garenne care home and police amassed a list of 40 suspects after scores of people came forward claiming they were sexually and physically abused there.

Aubin had told police in interview that he had been a victim of abuse while resident at the home, Mr Baker told the court.

Psychological experts believe Aubin could have enjoyed being abused and when he was older he in turn "dominated" young children, the prosecutor said.

"The boys did not resist at the time," said Mr Baker.

"It may be that, in Aubin's disturbed mind, he mistook the lack of resistance for compliance.

"It seems plain that this was a very disturbed young man in his teens. Quite what was going through his mind is impossible to tell."

Aubin was remanded in custody.