Families fear garden burial site

By Tom Bishop
BBC News, Croydon

Ford-Thrussell ran a landscape gardening business

Former neighbours of a convicted south London paedophile are anxiously awaiting news as police search his garden for bodies.

Leslie Ford-Thrussell, 72, was jailed two years ago for 36 sexual offences.

The back garden of his former home at 107 Walton Green, on Croydon's New Addington estate, is hidden by a wall topped with barbed wire, but neighbours are keen to see what the police discover behind it.

Nicola Nunn, who lives next door, said her daughter Chloe, aged four, regarded Ford-Thrussell as a "granddad".

"He seemed really lovely and polite," Ms Nunn told BBC News.

"He used to invite Chloe over into his garden all the time, giving her sweets and flowers."

It should not be happening, not this close to where my children are Nicola Nunn

Ms Nunn, who also has an eight-month-old son, said it was terrifying that Ford-Thrussell may have abused children near her home.

"It should not be happening, not this close to where my children are."

A family with two young children moved into the house after Ford-Thrussell was sent to prison, but they left three months ago.

The New Addington estate, a 1,000-acre housing estate, dates back to the 1930s. A maze of tower blocks, terraces and semi-detached homes were built to alleviate a housing shortage.

Another of Ford-Thrussell's neighbours, who did not want to be named, knew him from childhood.

"I used to help out at his landscape gardening business when I was seven," said the neighbour, who is now 35.

At the time, he lived down the road from Ford-Thrussell in Dunley Drive, also in Croydon.

"It was a shock when he was arrested and we found out what he had done.

"I've told the police they should also be looking there," he said.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, was disturbed by the investigation.

"It's a bit nerve-racking because I have got three children myself," he said.

"I didn't know the man but I want to find out exactly what is going on. I do not want my children to know anything at all about it."