John Grant

John Grant, a former church deacon and youth group leader from Hornsey, was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court. Grant 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. The offences were committed over several decades against young men who were identified as vulnerable.

Judge Emma Deacon KC presided over the case, noting that Grant used his position of trust and his roles within various church organisations and youth groups to manipulate and target his victims. The court heard that Grant groomed these individuals through coercive and controlling behaviour before subjecting them to sexual abuse.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Grant has been banned from serving in any paid or unpaid administrative role within a church organisation. He is also subject to a restraining order and will remain on the sex offenders register. Grant will serve up to half of his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.