John Grant, a 77-year-old moderator and preacher with the London Baptist Association, has been convicted of sexually assaulting four vulnerable young men over more than 40 years. The Met Police are now appealing for any further victims to come forward, as they believe there may be many more due to the nature of his offending and his lengthy association with churches across the UK.
Details of the Conviction
Grant was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court of 11 sexual attacks committed between 1970 and 2012. The charges included 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 has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on September 11.
Grant's Church Links
Grant was a senior figure at Muswell Hill Baptist Church and also had links to Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees, Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley, Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie, and several youth groups in north London. He served as a church deacon and youth leader, using his positions to groom and abuse vulnerable young men.
How the Abuse Came to Light
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, who began asking whether the complainant wanted massages. The man rejected these offers but 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.
Investigation and Further Victims
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, Grant displayed a similar motive: systematically grooming vulnerable young men through coercive control and behaviour before sexually assaulting them. Grant, of Hornsey, was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court.
Police Appeal
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.'
