Warden appears in court in Jersey

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/jersey/7301234.stm

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The first man to be arrested and charged in connection with abuse allegations at a Jersey children's home has appeared in court.

Gordon Wateridge, 76, is charged with indecently assaulting three girls under the age of 16.

He formerly worked as a warden at the Haut de la Garenne care home.

In court, he spoke only to confirm his name. The stipendiary magistrate adjourned the case for four weeks, until 14 April at 1000 BST.

Gordon Wateridge is alleged to have committed the assaults between January 1969 and December 1973.

The allegations came to light as part of the ongoing investigation into historic abuse on Jersey. The inquiry was launched by Jersey police 18 months ago.

Mr Wateridge was born in Croydon and lives in the Jersey parish of St Clement. He is also being charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm.

Although he worked at Haut de la Garenne, his arrest is unconnected with the discovery of a fragment of a child's skull at the former children's home and the ongoing forensic search there.