A senior figure in churches across London and the country has been jailed for eight and a half years after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against vulnerable young men spanning more than four decades.
John Grant, 77, of Colney Hatch Lane, Hornsey, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, 14 September. As well as the custodial sentence, he was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offender register for life.
Grant had been found guilty at the same court on 13 July 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.
The offences related to four victim-survivors and took place between 1970 and 2012. During that period 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, as well as several youth groups in north London. He held various roles, including church deacon and youth group leader.
According to the Metropolitan Police, detectives found that across all the complainants Grant displayed a similar pattern of behaviour, grooming vulnerable young men through coercive control before sexually assaulting them.
Decades-long association with churches
Grant’s most senior role was as Moderator for the London Baptist Association at Muswell Hill Baptist Church, a position that saw him stand in as a moderator for other churches in the district and preach in local churches around Muswell Hill. The Met said detectives believe this role may have brought him into contact with other potential victim-survivors.
In addition to the London and Stockton churches, Grant was a member of the Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie between 1965 and 1970, and of Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley between 1973 and 1984.
The Met said it was the nature of Grant’s offending and his lengthy association with churches as an influential member that led investigators to believe there may be further victims who have yet to come forward.
Investigation began in 2023
Police first became aware of Grant’s offending in 2023, when 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. According to the Met, Grant began asking whether he wanted massages after two other people moved out of the address, and despite rejecting the offers, the victim stated that he felt pressured into massages involving sexual touching.
The abuse continued until the victim moved out in 1998. He returned to the address in 1999, where the abuse continued until 2008.
Following the disclosure, officers launched extensive enquiries to identify organisations and churches connected to Grant, including Muswell Hill Baptist Church, Billingham Baptist Church and several youth groups in north London that Grant had previously run. Through those enquiries, detectives identified further victim-survivors.
Police renew appeal for further victims
Detectives are appealing for any other potential victim-survivors to come forward due to the nature and scale of Grant’s known offending.
“Today’s sentencing follows an extensive investigation by the Met into Grant’s offending and shows our commitment to bringing offenders to justice,” said Detective Chief Inspector Elsa Mak, whose team led the investigation.
“We would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim-survivors who have already come forward. Their experiences and accounts directly shaped our investigation while it was in its early stages, and we thank them for putting their trust in us to help identify the scale of Grant’s prolific offending across four decades.”
“The Met remains committed to investigating all reports of rape and serious 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.”
Anyone with information, or who wishes to report offences relating to Grant, is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD3277/08JUL26, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Confidential support is available from the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 for anyone aged 16 and over in England and Wales, or via its online chat at 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
