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Church leader who preyed on young men for decades jailed

Police appeal for survivors of abusive church leader to come forwardPicture: MET Police-------------Met Police appeal for victims after senior church figure convicted of non-recent sexual offencesVictim-survivors are encouraged to come forward after a man who groomed vulnerable young men over a period of more than 40 years was found guilty of non-recent sexual offences, following a meticulous investigation by the Met.Detectives gathered accounts from victim-survivors to prove 77-year-old John Grant?s guilt. Grant ? who had been a senior figure across churches and in local communities ? had links with churches across the country, including in Muswell Hill Baptist Church in north London, and Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees, as well as several youth groups in north London.Met investigators believe there may be a considerable number of other victims due to the nature of Grant?s offending and his lengthy association with the church as an influential member at multiple religious institutions.John Grant, 77 (13.04.1949) of Colney Hatch Lane, Hornsey, was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 13 July.He was found guilty of ?three counts of sexual assault,six counts of indecent assault,two counts of causing another person to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.He will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 11 September.The offences relate to four victim-survivors and took place between 1970 and 2012 when Grant was associated with several churches across the country and youth groups in north London. He held various roles, including church deacon and youth group leader.Detective Constable Liam Levy, who led the investigation, said: ?This is a deeply distressing case involving a number of non-recent sexual offences, and I would like to recognise the courage and bravery shown by the victim-survivors in coming forward and putting their trust in us.?This conviction would not have been possible without their accounts that were provided in the early stages of the investigation, which helped identify the scale of Grant?s prolific offending across more than four decades. The victim-survivors were vulnerable young men who put their trust in Grant through his church association, and it is devastating they could be taken advantage of in this way.?As this case demonstrates, the Met is firmly committed to investigating all reports of rape and sexual offences, even if they occurred many years ago. Any victim-survivor that comes forward will be treated with dignity, compassion and sensitivity at every step of the way.?The investigationPolice first became aware of Grant?s offending in 2023 after a victim-survivor reported that he had been repeatedly sexually assaulted over a 30-year period. The abuse began in 1994 when the victim-survivor moved into a shared house with Grant. However, after two other people moved out of the address they shared, Grant began asking whether the victim-survivor wanted massages.Despite rejecting these offers, the victim-survivor stated that he felt pressured into massages involving sexual touching. This continued until the victim moved out in 1998, but he returned to the address in 1999, where the abuse continued until 2012.Following this disclosure, officers launched extensive enquiries to identify organisations and churches connected to Grant. These included Muswell Hill Baptist Church, Billingham Baptist Church and several youth groups in north London that Grant had previously run. Through these enquiries, detectives identified further victim-survivors.Across all the complainants, there was a similar motive displayed by Grant where he groomed vulnerable young men through coercive control and behaviour, before sexually assaulting them.The appealDue to the nature of this offending and the links to multiple churches, detectives are keen to encourage other potential victim-survivors to come forward.In addition to Billingham and Muswell Hill churches, Grant was also a member of the Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie between 1965 and 1970. He was also a member of Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley between 1973 and 1984.The most senior role held by Grant was at Muswell Hill Baptist Church as Moderator for the London Baptist Association. This would see Grant stand in as a moderator for the other churches in the district and preach in local churches around Muswell Hill, which detectives believe may have resulted in contact with other potential victim-survivors.The Met is committed to continually improving the support provided to victim-survivors, helping to build trust and confidence by listening, learning and taking action. This means putting victim-survivors at the centre of investigations, while maintaining a suspect-focused and context-led approach to achieving the best possible outcomes.Anyone with information or wishing to report offences relating to Grant can call police on 101 quoting CAD3277/08JUL26. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.For confidential help, the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line offers free phone and online chat for anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales: 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
Church leader John Grant has been jailed over sexual offences (Picture: Met Police)

A former church leader has been jailed for eight and a half years over sexual offences relating to young men.

John Grant, 77, a moderator and preacher at the London Baptist Association, held senior positions in the church and worked with youth groups.

The incidents of indecent and sexual assault of four young men were committed between 1970 and 2008, while he was a Deacon.

Dominique Burrell, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘The way John Grant abused his position as a trusted religious leader to prey on young men in his community was calculated and predatory. 

‘He targeted teenagers through youth groups, and befriended vulnerable young men in financial hardship – all to create opportunities so that he could assault them.

‘He manufactured these relationships for his own gratification and it would have been clear that none of the victims consented to his sexual touching and inappropriate behaviour.’

It was in November 2023 that Grant’s offending was first reported, with police appealing for further victims to come forward in July 2026.

He was a senior figure at the Muswell Hill Baptist Church and had links to Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees, Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley, Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie and several youth groups in north London.

The first victim to report him claimed the abuse began in 1994 when he moved into a shared house with Grant and continued over a 30-year period.

Learn more about Rape Crisis England & Wales

Rape Crisis England & Wales is a charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence.

Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren’t quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support.

You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you’re aged 16 or over, you can call the charity’s 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.

One victim has since died, having disclosed the abuse to someone close to him who came forward, with the prosecutors successfully arguing his evidence should be heard.

Burrell continued: ‘Grant’s offending has had a lasting impact on the victims in this case, and I would like to commend them all for speaking about what happened to them.

‘We understand it can be difficult to come forward, but it is because of the strength of their evidence that we have been able to hold him to account. 

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‘I hope his conviction sends a clear message that the CPS will pursue justice and prosecute those who commit sexual offences, no matter how long ago the abuse took place.’

Grant, of Hornsey, was found guilty of 11 counts: three counts of sexual assault, six counts of indecent assault, and two counts of causing another person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

He was sentenced to eight and a half years’ imprisonment and will be put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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