John Grant, a 77-year-old church moderator and preacher at the London Baptist Association, has been convicted of carrying out 11 sexual assaults against vulnerable young men over a period spanning more than 40 years, from 1970 to 2012. The Metropolitan Police have expressed concerns that there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, given the nature of his offending and his long-standing involvement with churches across the United Kingdom.
Grant's Positions and Links to Multiple Churches
Grant served as a senior figure at the Muswell Hill Baptist Church and had connections to several other religious institutions, including the Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees, Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley, Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie, and various youth groups in north London. His roles as a church deacon and youth leader allowed him access to young men, whom he systematically groomed through coercive control and manipulative behavior before sexually assaulting them.
Investigation Initiated by a Victim's Report in 2023
Police first became aware of Grant's offending in 2023 when a victim reported that he had been repeatedly sexually assaulted over a 30-year period. The abuse began in 1994 when the victim moved into a shared house with Grant. According to the victim, Grant began asking whether he wanted massages. Although the man initially rejected these offers, he felt pressured into massages that involved sexual touching. This pattern continued until the victim moved out in 1998, but when he returned to the address in 1999, the abuse resumed and persisted until 2012.
Following this discovery, officers launched extensive enquiries to identify organisations, youth groups, and churches connected to Grant. This led detectives to identify further victims. Across all complainants, a similar motive was evident: Grant targeted vulnerable young men who had placed their trust in him through his church associations.
Convictions and Sentencing
Grant, of Hornsey, was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court 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. He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing scheduled for September 11.
Detective Constable Liam Levy, who led the investigation, praised the victims for their courage. He stated: "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."
Levy added: "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."
Appeal for Further Victims
Police are now appealing for any additional victims to come forward, emphasizing that they will be treated with sensitivity and respect. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to identify other individuals who may have been abused by Grant during his decades-long association with the church.
