Childrens home boss/abuser found dead on eve of trial

[TonyGosling]

Children's home boss who abused 'hundreds' of boys dies in suspected suicide on eve of trial
By Daily Mail Reporter - 12th November 2009

John Darby, 71, outside Blackfriars Crown Court at a hearing this summer
A retired care home boss accused of abusing hundreds of boys is suspected of committing suicide on the eve of his trial.
John Darby, 73, was found unconscious at his flat in Hunstanton, Norfolk, after failing to appear at court, and died yesterday.
Police believe the diabetic may have taken an overdose of insulin.
He was due to go on trial at Blackfriars Crown Court accused of gross indecency and indecent assault charges linked to ten victims.
Last year Darby pleaded guilty to 18 offences of making indecent images of children with videos, photographs and on a computer.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said he also admitted one count of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16.
Detectives from the Met's Child Abuse Command launched an inquiry after one of Darby's victims ran into him in the street and attacked him.
After arresting both men they probed a series of claims linked to the former Hollydale Children's Home in Catford, South London.
Several other men came forward to claim they were abused at the local authority home between 1971 and 1983 when Darby was in charge.
A solicitor who represents one of Darby's victims said police believe he may be responsible for hundreds of crimes.
Police who raided his home in Hunstanton, Norfolk, found underpants belonging to his victims, which the pervert had kept after carrying out his abuse.
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Officers also found 1,200 films of him sexually assaulting and torturing children.
Darby was found unconscious at about 8am on November 4 after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest and Norfolk Police officers checked his flat.
He was taken to a local hospital in a critical condition and died yesterday at about 11am.
The police spokesman added: 'The death is being treated as non-suspicious. A post-mortem will be arranged in due course and an inquest will be opened in due course.'
The man, who asked not be identified, was in Darby's care at Hollydale Children's Home in Catford, South-East London, for seven years until he was aged 15.
The care home manager admitted making indecent images of his victim before apparently committing suicide on the eve of his trial for other offences.
'You have to understand John took care of me from eight until I was 15. He was my only role model ....
'I was in care and I thought it was normal, but it was anything but normal and it is the sordidness and secrets and lies that I now have to deal with'
Now aged 44 and with a family of his own, the man said he blanked out an incident in which Darby took obscene photographs of him when he was 13.
The man said he only realised the depraved reality of what had happened when Scotland Yard detectives knocked on his door clutching copies two years ago.
Speaking today, he said: 'He took me to a flat in Norwood where there is a view of the City.
'He had different instruments laid out and different underwear and I had to perform in front of him while this was being videoed.
'It is something I only viewed when the police got hold of me. I was looking at myself, looking back at me and I had no memory or recollection of it.
'I remember going to the flat and I do not remember what happened there. When I saw the video I was taken aback.'
The man said other indecent photographs of himself taken by Darby and with his face removed were also circulated on the internet.
Speaking about his relationship with Darby, the man said learning about the video made him travel to Hunstanton, in Norfolk, to confront him.
But he said when he arrived at Darby's door he was overcome with emotion and was almost unable to speak.
He said: 'You have to understand John took care of me from eight until I was 15. He was my only role model. Finding this out took the carpet from under my feet.
'I was in care and I thought it was normal, but it was anything but normal and it is the sordidness and secrets and lies that I now have to deal with.'
The man said Darby later claimed his deviant behaviour was sparked by experiences of being caned naked while at boarding school.
Speaking about his death, he said: 'I am very sorry he is not going on trial. I am also relieved police did get the evidence and, in my case, a guilty plea.
'This gave me a lot of belief. However, the other victims have not been given the opportunity to get justice.'
The man, who now works as a student liaison officer, said he was aware of dozens of other victims and said police amassed a huge amount of evidence.
He said: "Every child wants to be loved and made to feel special, but it all disappeared when the police came and showed me the first pictures.
'It is amazing how he got away with it for this long. Police have had a difficult job tracking down all the victims.
'He is better off dead because of the amount of pain he has caused. It just goes so deep. It is a wonder that many of us are still around.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1227212/Childrens-home-boss-ab used-hundreds-boys-dies-suspected-suicide-eve-trial.html#

[fish5133]