Jersey Investigation

He said his childhood was not a happy one.

“I think life in general for myself has been pretty difficult you know,” he told BBC Jersey.

“It wasn’t my fault I was put into care and dragged up in some of these places.”

'I certainly can't remember laughing'

His first taste of the care system was in the ‘80s at Haut de la Garenne, the former care home where more than 160 people have said they were victims of abuse.

Aaron described memories of a “most peculiar” classroom there with a glass front containing only a bed and a potty.

“If you misbehaved you got put in this room,” he said.

“I can remember being inside the room but I don’t know if I’d been naughty or kicked off to be put in there.”

His overall impression of his time at Haut de la Garenne was of unhappiness.

“I certainly can’t remember laughing or joking at anytime there. I don’t remember being happy there anyway that’s for sure.”

'A horrible place'

After Haut de la Garenne Aaron moved to La Preference children’s home, before spending time at Les Chenes and then finally Heathfields Children’s Centre.

Aaron said Les Chenes, Jersey’s secure remand home and school, was “a horrible place”.

He told the BBC: “I’ve been to prison before and prison was a lot easier. Prison was a walk in the park compared to Les Chenes.

“With the regime at Les Chenes it was just a horrible place, a really horrible environment."

'Some of the staff were nice'

“Some of the staff there were nice people, some of them really nice, but the majority were just power-happy people," he said.

“You were spoken down to, ordered around – it wasn’t nice, definitely wasn’t nice.”

He described his average day while living at Les Chenes:

“On a day to day basis you’d have to get up, you’d have to clean your room, clean hallways with dustpan and brushes – there were no Hoovers.”

“You were just ordered around; ‘Go here, do this’”.

'Education was absolutely rubbish'

He also felt let down by the teaching programmed offered at the secure school.

“I think the education was absolutely rubbish. It was just not worth talking about.”

'I didn't know any different'

Aaron was not aware of any sexual abuse going on when he was in the homes, but said he wouldn’t have known what sexual abuse was anyway.

“I’d no idea of anything then because it was just the way it was – it was just the way I was brought up and I didn’t know any different to the environment and the way we were treated.”

However, he said he was not surprised by the allegations which have recently come to light:

“The minute I heard that on the telly about they’d found a body I couldn’t believe it. I think it’s great they’re finally doing something.

“I hope these people do get brought to justice,” he added.

Helpline

Police say it is vital that any alleged victims still unidentified contact the incident room as soon as possible, on 0800 735 7777.

There is also an NSPCC helpline on 0800 169 1173 within Jersey, or + 44 (0)20 7825 7489 from outside.