- Peter Hatton-Bornshin suffered appalling sexual abuse as a child in care
- Tormented by his experience at Grafton Close Children’s Home in London
- Took his own life in 1994 at the age of 28
- Former deputy head of home and Catholic priest arrested today
The Daily Mail online
PUBLISHED: 22:51 GMT, 6 February 2013 | UPDATED: 10:48 GMT, 7 February 2013
By Richard Pendlebury and Stephen Wright
Smartly dressed in his school uniform, the 12-year-old boy is a picture of youthful innocence.
But within two years of this photograph being taken, Peter Hatton-Bornshin’s life had been ripped apart.
He was orphaned following his mother’s suicide and then suffered appalling sexual abuse while in the care of social services in the early 1980s. Tormented by his experience at the council-run Grafton Close Children’s Home in West London, Peter took his own life in 1994. He was 28.
‘Youthful innocence’: Peter Hatton-Bornshin, who was in the care of the Grafton Close Children’s Home as a teenager, took his own life at the age of 28
The first picture of Peter, whose tragic life was revealed by the Mail last Saturday, emerged today as two men were arrested by detectives investigating allegations that a VIP paedophile ring preyed on Grafton Close boys at the gay-friendly Elm Guest House in Barnes, South-West London.
A former deputy head of Grafton Close, John Stingemore, 70, was detained during a dawn raid at his housing association flat in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, over claims he sexually abused several boys in his care three decades ago.
A Roman Catholic priest from Norfolk – Father Tony McSweeney, 66 – was also arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting boys at Grafton Close.
McSweeney officiated at the 1990 wedding of boxer Frank Bruno and his former wife Laura, and was the ‘part-time’ chaplain at Norwich City Football Club.
Priest: Father Tony McSweeney, who officiated at the wedding of boxer Frank Bruno and his former wife Laura in 1990, has been arrested on suspicion of child abuse
Detectives are probing claims that several Establishment figures – including senior politicians, pop stars and police employees – abused under-age rent boys and children from Grafton Close at the Elm Guest House.
Scotland Yard launched the child sex abuse inquiry, codenamed Operation Fernbridge, after Labour MP Tom Watson made a string of sensational allegations in the Commons last October.
Run by Indian-born Haroon ‘Harry’ Kasir and his German wife Carole, Elm Guest House was openly advertised in the gay press in the 1980s as a place where homosexual men could meet.
Mrs Kasir died in 1990. Shortly after her death, a campaigner from the National Association of Young People in Care called for a criminal investigation into the case.
He said he had been told by Mrs Kasir that boys had been brought in from a children’s home for sex.
She had told him she had photographs or video of many Establishment figures at her hotel, including a bishop. One photograph allegedly showed a former cabinet minister in a sauna with a naked boy.
Peter Hatton-Bornshin received ‘substantial compensation’ following his ordeal at Grafton Close.
Tonight his stepfather, who asked not to be named, said he had placed Peter and his elder brother into care after their mother’s suicide in 1980.
He said: ‘Every time I visited Peter in the home he was happy.
‘He never said a word about anyone being abused. There was no unhappiness whatsoever. When he came to stay with us, he was always laughing and joking.
‘It makes me shudder now with what has come out.’
‘Peter looked younger than what he was and was a kind of Peter Pan character. He was a bit childish and found it hard to form relationships with girls.’
Detained: Detectives arrested Stingemore, 70, seen left, centre, being escorted by police, and Catholic priest McSweeney, 66, below, over child abuse allegations dating back to the 1980s
Ceremony: McSweeney, left, presided over boxer Frank Bruno’s 1990 wedding to his former wife Laura
He said Peter had no interests at all, such as supporting a football team or other typical teenage pursuits, which he put down to his behavioural problems during childhood.
He added: ‘Peter was always the blue-eyed boy in my eyes but he did act and look younger than his age. I just think he was very immature. When he was 20 he behaved like a 14-year-old.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Anyone who has been affected by or has information about activity in the early 1980s at the Elm Guest House or the Grafton Close care home should speak to the NSPCC on their helpline on 0808 800 5000, or their local police.’
A spokesman for Richmond council, which ran the home, said: ‘As the investigation is on-going, it would be inappropriate to comment.’
I knew Peter well, it was me who found him dead I am just totally disgusted that it is 18yrs after his awful death that an investigation is been launched.
Peter made no secret of his sexual abuse whilst he was in care, he told many authorities including his doctors and psychiatrists yet no one believed him until the trauma drove him to kill himself. Totally and utterly disgusted to say the least.
I can openly agree with Jackie, as my brother and I repeatedly told the authorities on many occasions, off the sexual abuse whilst in local care homes.
After 30yrs people are finally listening. My brother has paid with the pain he suffered by committing suicide. I have no doubt that he is one of many who have chosen this route, due to lack of trust we placed in the hands of our carers.
My heart goes out to you David. The pain of the ones left behind is awful. I kept my secret for over 40+ years. Some might say that suicide is the cowards way out. They have not 1 iota of what they’re talking about. I too almost went down that road. It took hundreds of thousands dollars in drugs and alcohol to rid me of the evils and torchers that plays over and over in one’s mind. I didn’t tell my dad because of a couple of reasons, Don’t forget I was only 11 or 12 years old, and one does not formulate answers as an adult does. Also remember this was the early 70’s. The priest was put on a pedestal as a god. My mom and dad were devout. I also know now as I did back then the priest would have went missing, and would never have been found. So I hid it, from everyone I loved.
I don’t do drugs or alcohol anymore and haven’t for some time. But the flood gates were opened again when someone told on him. My world came to stop and not at once. I didn’t remember everything at first. It wasn’t until I was questioned over and over again by his lawyer, that the remembering came back, and not all at once. I’d say it took a few weeks. I kept waking up in a sweat, the dreams weren’t dreams at all. I didn’t know how to handle the emotions and horrors I long ago put away. I sought help and thank God I did. Am I over it? Not a chance! Will the dreams, visions and his voice be silent? Not too likely. It’s a little quieter but there’s no chance in hell I could ever forget. That would take with today’s prices, an easy half a million, to which I want no part of again.
It may be funny to some and I have been questioned on why do I still go to Mass. Jesus didn’t do this to me a man dressed up as a priest did. It’s been my faith in the Jesus Christ my Lord and God. He had done great things for me. He will do them for you to, if you would only ask. I don’t hold much faith for church officials. They try to hide, deny, save face and protect themselves. It’s not working. Pope Frances has been left a tricky job. It will take a couple of years to get to the heart of it. If there isn’t a couple of hundred defrocking’s of priests bishops and maybe even cardinal’s in the next year or so, it won’t happen. I’m being very generous with the numbers. There’s right and wrong, black and white, not too hard a decision to make. Give them a severance package and the boot. Time to clean up the filth in our church. Touching any child, is one of the worst evils we have in our world. It doesn’t just hurt the child it hurts and can destroy a family unit. God Bless David
Pope Francis was a good political choice to put a humble, sincere face on
Vatican City. Nothing has changed except the face – another question is what is the punishment meted out for these perverted crimes committed in high places of trust? Losing a job to what? Where do they go, what positions do they hold away from the”sheeple” -how can we follow it up to prove justice has been served.
We don’t change the deep, dirty actions by singing a new song.
These wolves are getting off with a “slap on the hand, a shaking of the head and a ‘tut tut’ don’t do that again” disciplinary action.
We need to know where they are? Some may be serving as chaplains on cruise ships or other “spiritual” positions away from the parishioners eyes.
For sure they will gravitate towards vulnerable groups wherever the homeless are in any unsuspecting country where thousands die and leave children behind. This is all done in the name of compassion of course.
In my diocese I have seen a very high percentage of pedophile priests and many are moved around and around. This institution appears to be a pedophile institution hiding behind collars and garb with an aura of religiosity. Go to church if you must but should we financially support this institution from which we must protect our children?
I’m still questioning that one.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
Marion I have to agree with what you are saying. The, where are they now, and who’s watching them.
My $$ goes to my parish I wouldn’t Will them anything or give too much so it’s sent up the food chain. I know it must cost a fortune to run the machine but how much is enough. Have we ever throughout the centuries have them say to us. “You can all cut back now we have enough to do us and run our church” Not! Where there’s money and lots of it, there is Always corruption, greed, and power mongers. There are many other words but I’ll keep it simple.
I am looking at the photo’ of McSweeney; Why do so many of these alleged predators arrive at the courthouse in a state of dishevelment and disrepair. The scene is completed with the inevitable walking stick……
Such is their world ; manipulating to the very end and often the bitter end….