Ex-Children's Home Boss Gets Eight Years For Sexually Abusing Young Boys

Jailed: Patrick Grant

A former children’s home boss, who along with his special constable accomplice abused young boys four decades ago, was jailed for eight years today.  

Patrick Grant, 69, of Partridge Road, Roath, Cardiff was even acquitted of similar allegations in the late-70’s, but was allowed to return to the profession to abuse another youngster.

That victim, known as JH, 43, was a resident of Walker House Children’s Home, Llanishen, Cardiff, where Grant, the superintendent, would sneak into his room at night and molest him under the bedclothes.

Father-of-two Grant was convicted at Inner London Crown Court of three counts of indecently assaulting JH between September 1987 and June 1989 when he was 13 years-old.

He was also found guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting NN, 53, between January 1976 and May 1977 and two counts of indecently assaulting RM, 54, between February 1977 and February 1978. 

The offences involving NN, who was 11 years-old took place at Fircroft Children’s home, Thames Ditton Road, Surbiton and RM, who was also aged 11, was molested at Rowan House, Shirley Oaks Children’s Home, South Norwood.

Both those homes were run by Lambeth council, but were not within the borough boundary.

Charges relating to a fourth boy, who said he was molested at South Vale Children’s Home, resulted in a hung jury and there will be no retrial.

Grant’s co-defendant Bernard Philip Collins, 73, of Holly Court, Worcester Road, Sutton, a former special constable and fellow superintendent, was convicted of five indecent assaults at Fircroft between 1976 and 1978 and will be sentenced on April 23.

JH, who was abandoned by his mother, aged 9 years-old went onto abuse glue and sniff petrol, later turning to cannabis and heroin, which he blames on Grant’s abuse.

He often fled from the Cardiff home, but in his victim impact statement said: “Each time I ran away from the home I was picked up by the police and told them what was happening, but they did nothing.”

He spent twenty-four years homeless on the streets of London and once attempted suicide by slashing his neck. “Patrick Grant always said to me he would make me disappear. Words that have always haunted me,” he added.

Bernard Collins will be sentenced April 23

Recorder of Southwark Judge Usha Karu told father-of-two Grant, who is also a grandfather: “You went into JH’s bedroom and touched his private parts under the bedclothes, sometimes over.

“Once when he wanted to say: ’Stop’ you put your hand over his mouth.”

The duo were exposed by an investigation into Lambeth social services employees in the 1970’s.

“Each of these three victims have been severely traumatised by what happened to them,” added the judge. “This was undoubtedly a gross abuse of trust and use of threats, telling a child you would make them disappear and that nobody would believe them.

“Each suffered severe psychological harm that they will carry for the rest of their lives.”

Regarding his acquittal in the 70’s the judge told Grant: “It could be said there was a shot passed across your bows, but you continued to offend.”

The court heard NN was often the victim of bare-bottomed corporal punishment beatings carried out by Collins, who also molested him in his own living quarters.

“You Patrick Grant would enter the bathroom when he was having a bath and wash his private parts and you masturbated yourself at the same time.

“Once you slapped him in the face and pushed his head under the water.

“You told NN no one would believe him and there was no one for him to complain to.”

In his statement NN also says his life was destroyed by the abuse, suffering “flashbacks and sleep deprivation” and making two suicide attempts.

He spent eight years in prison as a young offender and found the trial of the duo “incredibly traumatic,” particularly when discovering for the first time he had been abandoned by his family aged just two years-old.

RM was similarly abused at bath time by Grant, who told them he would have to inspect they had properly washed between their legs.

He said he “locked the abuse away in my mind” and it turned him into “an angry boy and man.” 

The duo’s stint at South Vale ended after six months when they were arrested in July, 1978, with Collins going on the run until 1980 when he was convicted of abuse.