Men convicted for child sexual abuse at children's homes in London and Cardiff
Two men have been convicted of abusing young boys at children's homes in the 1970s and 1980s.
Posted on 18 April 2019
Philip Collins, 73, of Sutton, and Patrick Grant, 69, of Wales, were convicted following a trial in February.
Grant, was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault relating to three victims at Fircroft Children's Home in Surbiton, Rowan House - a Shirley Oaks Children's Home in South Norwood, and Walker House in Cardiff, South Wales. He had been working at all of these homes when the offences took place.
Collins was convicted of five counts of indecent assault relating to one victim which also took place at Fircroft Children's Home, where he working as head of the centre. He also worked as a special police constable based at Esher police station.
On one occasion both men carried out the abuse together at Fircroft and then ridiculed their victim and told him no body would believe him when he threatened to report them
Last week Grant was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. Collins will be sentenced on 23 April 2019 at Inner London Crown Court.
Alison Millar, head of Leigh Day’s abuse team, said:
“It must have been incredibly difficult for the survivors of the abuse to come forward and give evidence in court and I hope they now feel some sense of justice following the convictions. It is clear that child sexual abuse was widespread in children’s homes across the country in the 1970s and 1980s and it is vital not only that the perpetrators are brought to justice but that survivors are supported to help them cope with the long lasting and devastating effects of the abuse.”