A former children’s home boss charged with indecently assaulting young boys has died weeks before he was due to stand trial.

John Stingemore, 72, who managed Grafton Close children's home in Hanworth, was charged with abusing young boys in the during the 1970s and 1980s and was due to next appear in court on February 2.

Sussex Police said he was found dead on Wednesday, January 14, at 3.18pm at his house after a call from a member of the public. 

They said he was collapsed and discovered to be dead. His death was not being treated by police as suspicious.

A spokeswoman from the coroner’s office in Hastings, near where he lived in St Leonards-on-Sea, said: “He has passed away."

Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, said: "It’s very disappointing. I am hugely disappointed that the abuse victims will be denied justice now that he has died, and worse, that this man cannot be mined for more information about what happened.

"That source of information has been closed off."

One of his alleged victims told investigations website Exaro: "I am absolutely devastated. It has taken me, other witnesses, and the police this long to almost get to court. 

"We all wanted a jury to decide on the charges. Other proceedings are ongoing, so that is all I can say.”

Mr Stingemore was charged in September 2013 with offences dating back to the 1970s, including five counts of indecent assault, one count of taking indecent images of a child and one charge of indecency with a child.

He pleaded not guilty to all the offences. 

The home was run by Richmond Council. 

Victims were said to be between the ages of nine and 15-years-old.

Mr Stingemore was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court next month alongside co-defendant Father Anthony McSweeney, 66, who pleaded not guilty to similar charges in December 2013.