Prolific sex offender who used position at Muswell Hill church to attack young men jailed

John Grant has been jailed for eight years following his conviction for a string of sexual offences going back over 50 years

A man who groomed vulnerable young men has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison.

John Grant, aged 77 and of Colney Hatch Lane, Hornsey, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court today (Monday 14th), to eight-and-a-half years in prison. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender register for life.

It follows Grant’s conviction for a string of sexual offences offences, going back over 50 years, in July.

Grant is known to have groomed vulnerable young men from the 1970s onwards and was found guilty 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.

Grant had links with churches across the country, including as a senior figure at Muswell Hill Baptist Church. He was also a youth group leader in North London.

Detective Chief Inspector Elsa Mak, whose team Metropolitan Police team led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentencing follows an extensive investigation by the Met into Grant’s offending and shows our commitment to bringing offenders to justice.

“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.”

The offences Grant has been convicted of relate to four victim-survivors and took place between 1970 and 2012 when Grant was associated with several churches across the country.

But 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 victims.

Dominique Burrell, for the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “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.

“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.

“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.”

Police first became aware of Grant’s offending in 2023 after 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. 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 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 in Stockton-on-Tees 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.

Grant was a member of the Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie between 1965 and 1970 and was also a member of Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley between 1973 and 1984.

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 and 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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