Church deacon, John Grant, jailed for decades of sexual abuse
A former church deacon and youth group leader who groomed and sexually assaulted vulnerable young men over several decades has been jailed for eight and a half years.
John Grant, 77, from Hornsey in north London, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault, six counts of indecent assault and two counts of causing another person to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
Grant was a senior figure in churches and local communities across the country, including Muswell Hill Baptist Church in north London and Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees. He was also involved with several youth groups in north London.
The Metropolitan Police first became aware of Grant’s offending in 2023, when a survivor reported being repeatedly sexually assaulted by him over a 30-year period. The subsequent investigation identified further survivors.
Police said Grant groomed vulnerable young men through coercive and controlling behaviour before sexually assaulting them. Some of those he targeted were teenagers he met through youth groups, while others were young men experiencing vulnerable periods in their lives.
At Wood Green Crown Court, the judge described Grant’s behaviour as the “sustained manipulation” of young men he knew to be vulnerable and to whom he had presented himself as a respected and benevolent figure.
One survivor described how Grant had used the church to gain access to those he targeted. Another said the abuse had destroyed his trust in the church and had a devastating impact on his mental health.
This case is another disturbing example of how positions of trust and authority can be exploited to facilitate sexual abuse. Religious and community leaders can occupy particularly trusted positions in people’s lives. When someone deliberately abuses that trust, it can make it incredibly difficult for survivors to recognise what is happening, speak out or feel confident that they will be believed.
The length of time over which Grant offended is also deeply concerning. His offences spanned several decades, and police now believe there may be further survivors who have not yet come forward.
For anyone who experienced abuse many years ago, this case is also an important reminder that it is not necessarily too late to speak about what happened. Survivors may take many years to feel able to disclose abuse, particularly where the person responsible held a position of authority or trust.
If you are reading this as someone who has experienced sexual abuse, whether recently or many years ago, support is available. Speaking to someone does not mean you have to make a report. If you would like to talk through what happened or explore what support might look like for you, our abuse team is here to listen in complete confidence.
