UNITED KINGDOM
Hastings and St. Leonards Observer

The death of a pensioner from St Leonards 18 days before he was due to stand trial for historic sex offences was formally announced in court today (MON).

John Stingemore, 72, was accused of sexually abusing boys at Grafton Close Children’s Home in Hounslow, west London.

He was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court with priest Father Tony McSweeney, 67, on February 2.

McSweeney is accused of targeting children while wheelchair-bound Stingemore was working at the council-run home between February 1980 and July 1981.

Prosecutor at Southwark Crown Court, Sarah Plaschkes QC, said today: “We have received information that on January 14, just a couple of days ago, Mr Stingemore passed away.”

Judge Alistair McCreath replied: “The court having received the correct certificate of death in relation to a man known to be John Stingemore, the defendant in this case,…