Pair bailed on sex assault charges

Two men appeared in court today charged with sexually assaulting children at a former Jersey care home.

Gordon Claude Wateridge pleaded not guilty to 17 counts involving five alleged victims between 1970 and 1974 at the Haut de la Garenne children's home.

The 77-year-old, originally from Croydon, south London, pleaded not guilty at Jersey Royal Court to 15 charges of indecent assault on girls under 16 and one count of incitement to indecent assault on a girl under 16.

He also denied one count of assault on a boy aged between 12 and 13 and his case was adjourned to November 25 for directions with a trial expected on April 20 next year.

Michael Aubin, 46, from Southampton, is charged with six counts of indecent assault on boys, two counts of sodomy and two counts of procuring an act of gross indecency.

The charges are alleged to have taken place between 17 February, 1977 and 19 July, 1978 and involve five different complainants.

Aubin reserved his plea and the case was adjourned to November 26 for a pre trial review. Both men were bailed.

The men are not connected.