Police believe John Grant may have sexually assaulted more victims between 1970 and 2012
A Muswell Hill church leader exploited his position of trust to groom and sexually assault vulnerable young men over a 40-year period. John Grant, 77, was a senior figure in churches and youth groups both in London and across the UK.
Grant, of Colney Hatch Lane in Hornsey, 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 at Wood Green Crown Court earlier today (Monday, July 13). He will be sentenced at the same court on September 11.
The offences relate to four victims and took place between 1970 and 2012 when Grant was serving as a church deacon and as a leader in youth groups. Police first became aware of Grant in 2023 after a victim reported that he had been repeatedly sexually assaulted over a period of 30 years.
This abuse began when the victim moved into a shared house where Grant was also living. Grant initially began asking whether the victim wanted massages, which the victim felt pressured into accepting, despite saying he did not want them several times.
These would involve sexual touching and continued until the victim moved out in 1998, but he moved back into the address in 1999, and the abuse continued until 2012. Following this report, officers carried out extensive enquiries across churches and youth groups. Detectives were able to identify further victims, who expressed a similar motive displayed by Grant, where he groomed vulnerable young men through coercive control and behaviour, before sexually assaulting them.
The Metropolitan Police believes there are more victims of Grant who are yet 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 Grant held was Moderator of the London Baptist Association at Muswell Hill Baptist Church. 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.
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.”
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.
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