TWO men have been charged with carrying out a string of sex offences against boys at a Southampton children’s home.

Stuart Thomas Murdoch and Jack Jones, previously known as Eamond Tallon, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court after being charged with five offences and 26 offences respectively as part of a Hampshire Constabulary investigation.

Officers are carrying out Operation Marmion, which is aimed at cracking down on historical sex exploitation, and are asking anyone with information of related crimes to come forward.

The allegations against Murdoch and Jones relate to the former Thorold Road children’s home in Southampton in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and do not involve alleged offences at any other children’s homes or institutions.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: “The charges form part of Hampshire Constabulary's ongoing review of non-recent CSE and abuse cases based on two aspects: a national police action plan on CSE, and a request by Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner, to examine the CSE situation locally between 1997 and 2013.

“The review includes a re-examination of available evidence, and the offer of additional support alongside partner agencies to those affected by CSE and abuse.”

Anyone with information can contact Operation Marmion detectives at Hampshire Constabulary by phoning 101.

Murdoch is charged with three counts of buggery and two counts of gross indecency with a teenage boy, while Jones is charged with 26 offences including buggery, gross indecency and indecent assault.

Murdoch, 53, of Tankerville Road, Southampton and Jones, 56, of an address in North Yorkshire, will appear at Southampton Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.