Former Sea Cadets volunteer jailed after child abuse in Somerset
A former Sea Cadet volunteer has been jailed for 22 years after sexually abusing children in his care.
Philip Grove, who volunteered as a chief petty officer for a Sea Cadet group in Somerset, was arrested in March 2021 and found guilty on 8 December 2023 for 15 of the 16 charges of abuse against him. The charges included two counts of rape, 10 counts of indecency with a child and three counts of indecent assault. Grove was jailed for 22 years, one year of which will be spent on extended licence.
The judge also granted a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order and instructed Grove to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was also barred from working with children.
One of the victims said in court they have had to live with “constant shame” for 30 years. In a statement read out in court, they said the whole of their adult life has been overcast in shadow: “A part of me, who I am, was taken away from me by Philip Grove.”
In a letter to the judge, another victim said she felt “worthless” and described Grove as a “sick, sick man”.
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the abuse was carried out by Grove over a period of six years.
The police also released a statement praising the bravery of the victims, saying they “exhibited exceptional courage”.
My team and I at BBK have to date represented 39 survivors of abuse at the hands of their superiors at Sea Cadets. We have years of experience in handling these types of claims, and we understand and appreciate the bravery it takes to stand up and speak out about abuse suffered in childhood.
It is unacceptable that abuse such as in the case of Grove can be allowed to happen in situations where children should be kept safe. We at BBK feel passionately that all survivors of abuse should be compensated and given every chance to achieve justice and closure.
If you have suffered abuse in childhood, as well as reporting this to the police, you may have the option to bring a civil claim for compensation. You can contact me at any time using the below details for a confidential conversation about your legal rights.
