St Leonards: Accused Man Found Dead

16 January 2015, 14:31

A former manager of a children's home has been found dead just weeks before he was due to stand trial over alleged historical sex abuse.

The charges against John Stingemore, 72, came following an investigation into alleged abuse at Grafton Close Children's Home in Hounslow.

Stingemore was discovered at his home in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on Wednesday afternoon.

Police who were called to the property following concern about his health found him collapsed and he was declared dead at the scene.

Sussex Police said his death was not suspicious. A post-mortem examination has yet to take place and the case has been passed to the coroner.

Stingemore was due to stand trial next month at Southwark Crown Court charged with a string of indecent assaults on children.