Justice statue
John Stingemore has been found dead weeks before he was due to stand trial for alleged sexual offences Getty

Former children's home manager John Stingemore has been found dead at his St Leonards-on-Sea home weeks before he was due to stand trial for historic sex offences at Grafton Close Children's Home.

Sussex Police found the 72-year-old's body at his West Sussex home after concerns were raised over his health.

They found him collapsed on the floor and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the death was not suspicious and have referred it to the coroner's office.

Stingemore was due to stand trial in February at Southwark Crown Court charged with a number of indecent assaults on children at Grafton Close Children's Home in Hounslow, west London.

The Metropolitan Police Service last year launched Operation Fernbridge into alleged abuse at the home, which was reputedly linked to a VIP paedophile ring that operated out of Elm Guest House in Barnes, south London.