Comments
Digital copy of Witness 187's witness statement to the States of Jersey Police providing an account of his experiences in care, primarily with respect to his time at Haut de la Garenne. Recorded by [Civilian Investigator] [Brian] Carter. [Some details redacted].
| Reference | ZC/D/AW1/B1/2/2/18/WS000473 |
| Date | 1 April 2008 |
| Scope and Content | Institutions Includes references to his time at La Préférence, Haut de la Garenne, Basil Lodge [Boys' Hostel] and St Martin's School. Recalls living at La Préférence for a year before moving to Haut de la Garenne with the rest of his family. Recalls that La Préférence was a vegetarian home and that he was hit by [a female member of staff] when she found out that Witness 187 had eaten meat during a visit to Haut de la Garenne. Describes reaction upon being moved to Haut de la Garenne, commenting on its reputation and strictness of regime there. Includes recollections of members of staff at Haut de la Garenne including Colin Tilbrook, Morag [Kidd], Ray Williams, Gordon Wateridge and couples employed at Haut de la Garenne. Recalls that he hoped to join the army but was told by Tilbrook that if he was to join, he would tell them about what had happened between Witness 187 and Jarrett. Recalls confronting Tilbrook about this when Witness 187 was in Borstal. Includes negative recollections about Williams, and memories of Wateridge. Describes receiving favourable treatment by staff compared to other children in residence. Recalls eating at the same dinner table with his siblings when at Haut de la Garenne, referring to his attendance at St Martin's School and their attendance at Grouville School. Comments on being separated from his family when placed in different homes, describing this as cruel. Recalls moving to Basil Lodge [Boys' Hostel] in 1972 after leaving school aged 15. Recalls being sent back to Haut de la Garenne in 1972 after he got into trouble, referring placement in one of the detention rooms on Christmas Day 1972. Includes description of the detention room, referring to facilities therein. Recalls absconding from Haut de la Garenne between Christmas 1972 and early 1973 [aged 16] and meeting two girls on Grouville beach before making their way to St Aubin. Refers to stealing something and subsequently being arrested by Police. Recalls being interviewed by the Police and signing a statement that he had not read, noting that it was only when he was in the Royal Court that he discovered that he had been charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13 year old girl. Denies having intercourse with either girl, expressing horror at having this on his record and hope that the offence can be expunged from his record. Abuse and Consequences Refers to three previous statements provided to the Police relating to Witness 187 being a victim of sexual abuse by [Terence] Jarrett, Tony Watton and Thomas Hamon. Refers to conviction of Jarrett for sexually abusing Witness 187 following his first statement in 1972. Notes that the second statement was primarily in relation to Tony Watton, referring to his suicide before the case went to Court. [C/D/AW1/A3/6/2/25/WD004366]. Mentions Watton's relationship with Morag [Kidd], noting that the abuse took place during camping trips at Crabbé. Notes that he made a third statement in respect of Thomas Hamon, mentioning his association with Haut de la Garenne and St John Ambulance. [C/D/AW1/A3/6/2/25/WD004369]. Notes that Hamon pleaded guilty to [sexual] offences against Witness 187, but died before being sentenced. Recollections of witnessing Mr Williams physically abuse residents at Haut de la Garenne, asserting that he himself was never physically abused by Williams. Describes inappropriate sexual behaviour by [Wateridge] towards female residents, referring to incidents of [Wateridge] sexually abusing girls on the snooker table. Recalls [Wateridge] assaulting his sister and a female member member of staff with whom Witness 187 thinks [Wateridge] had an affair. Remarks that his opinion regarding [Wateridge's] behaviour has changed from viewing it as having been friendly when he was a child to seeing it now as sexual assault. Describes being sexual abused by Tony Watton from the age of 11. Notes that abuse occurred during camping trips with Haut de la Garenne at Crabbé, noting that Watton was in a relationship with Morag [Kidd] during this period. States that he was still being abused by Watton when he was living at Basil Lodge. Recalls stealing Watton's car in the hope that abuse would stop, noting that he would commit offences whenever Watton abused him. Describes feeling safer when he was in prison as he was not being abused there. Refers to a photostat copy of a letter from Witness 187 to his mother in December 1997 whilst in La Moye Prison disclosing abuse by Tony Watton [C/D/AW1/A3/6/2/25/WD004371]. Refers to being in regular contact with Ted Paisnel during the year that he was in residence at La Préférence. Refers to nickname of Uncle Ted by which Paisnel was known, noting how he was later known as the Beast of Jersey. Asserts that during his time in residence at Haut de la Garenne, Paisnel was never the Father Christmas for the children. Recalls Paisnel visiting him at Haut de la Garenne after he left La Préférence, recalling that Paisnel was chased away by somebody. Events since leaving Care Recalls visiting Gordon [Wateridge] after leaving Haut de la Garenne, noting that Witness 187 and his wife would occasionally have drinks with [Wateridge]. Refers to his suspicions that [Wateridge] may have been having an affair with his wife, commenting on incident involving [Wateridge] and Witness 187's wife and deteroriation of Witness 187's marriage thereafter. Describes being caught with drugs in 1997, stating that his intention was to plant the drugs on Tony Watton because of abuse suffered by him. Notes that he was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, with the prosecution looking for a 5 year jail sentence. Describes speaking to Detective Constable Louis Beghin about being abused upon return to Jersey 3 years after release from prison. Describes seeing an area on the east side of the building at Haut de la Garenne during recent television coverage at the Home, noting that he and other children would use a room in this area to keep pets. Refers to marriage in 1980 and birth of his daughter. Refers to purchasing an item and giving it to Gordon Wateridge, including a timeline of events in respect of the item. States to have not had a conversation with Gordon Wateridge whereby he told Wateridge information about his address and his siblings. |
| Names | Beghin, Louis, Detective Constable Carter, Brian, Civilian Investigator Hamon, Thomas Jarrett, Terence Kidd, Morag Paisnel, Edward Tilbrook, Colin Wateridge, Gordon Claude Watton, Tony Williams, Ray Basil Lodge Boys' Hostel Children's Services Grouville School Haut de la Garenne HM Prison, La Moye La Préférence Children's Home Operation Rectangle Police Court Royal Court States of Jersey Police St John Ambulance St Martin's School |
| Keywords | abuse | abscondence | arrests | borstals | Camping | child abuse | childcare | Children | children's homes | children's services | Christmas | complaints | convictions | corporal punishment | courts | cruelty | Detective Constables | detention | detention rooms | evidence | Hostels | investigations | offences | physical abuse | Police | punishments | sexual abuse | sexual assaults | snooker tables | statements | Suicide | trials | vegetarianism | witness statements | witnesses |
| Places | Basil Lodge, Cambridge, Crabbé, Grouville Beach, Haut de la Garenne, La Moye, La Préférence, St Martin, St Aubin |
| Dimensions | 1 pdf file |
| Language | English |
| Level of description | File |
| Access restrictions | PDF file - please click on the link to download |
| Closed until | 2100 |
Context:
Digital copy of Witness 187's witness statement to the States of Jersey Police providing an account of his experiences in care, primarily with respect to his time at Haut de la Garenne. Recorded by [Civilian Investigator] [Brian] Carter. [Some details redacted].
ZC/D/AW1/B1/2/2/18/WS000473
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