Bernard Philip Collins

A former police special constable has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing a boy at a children's home he managed in the 1970s. Bernard Philip Collins, aged 73 from Sutton, was convicted of five counts of indecent assault on a victim who was just 11 years old when the attacks began. The offences occurred at Fircroft children's home in Kingston, Surrey, prior to 1978, during a period when Collins held a position of authority as the home's manager and also served as a special constable with the local police force.

The case came to light as part of a broader investigation into historical child sex abuse scandals, including the Shirley Oaks care home inquiry in Lambeth, which was expanded to cover other care homes in the region. Police uncovered evidence, including home videos that contradicted Collins's claims about his jewellery, as the victim specifically recalled his abuser's hand adorned with gold rings. Collins had previously denied wearing anything beyond a gold wedding band.

At Inner London Crown Court, Judge Usha Karu highlighted the profound betrayal of trust in her sentencing remarks. 'He said he was aware you were a special police constable and any time there was any trouble with the police it was dealt with [by you]. He was too scared to come forward. This was a gross abuse of trust,' the judge stated, noting the victim's fear due to Collins's connections with the police. The now 54-year-old victim had been too frightened to report the abuse at the time, believing he had no one to turn to.

Collins's history as a serial offender was laid bare in court. In 1980, he admitted to abusing three different boys at two care homes in Kingston and received a fine of £450, which barred him from working in care settings. He subsequently took up a role as a recycling officer before retiring. More recently, in 2015, he was imprisoned for four years for spanking and sexually touching another child at a home in Croydon. These prior convictions underscore a pattern of child sexual exploitation spanning decades.

The trial occurred alongside that of Patrick Grant, a 69-year-old former care home manager convicted of eight counts of indecent assault on three victims at various homes, including Fircroft and others linked to the Shirley Oaks scandal. Grant received an eight-year sentence on 11 April 2019. The Metropolitan Police led the investigation, prompted by inquiries into institutional child abuse.

• Offences: More than a dozen indecent assaults on an 11-year-old boy.
• Location: Fircroft children's home, Kingston, Surrey.
• Period: Before 1978.
• Sentence Date: 23 April 2019 (sentenced 'yesterday' relative to article publication on 24 April 2019).
• Court: Inner London Crown Court.