A transgender sex offender has been jailed for a campaign of abuse against a girl over a number of years. James Groves, who also goes by the name of April, was convicted of 19 offences, including nine counts of rape. The 51-year-old was sentenced to 20 years and six months behind bars at Bristol Crown Court on Friday (September 18).
Grooming and manipulation over several years
The court heard how Groves "targeted and manipulated" the victim over several years. The attacker groomed the girl to gain trust before sexually abusing her.
In an impact statement read in the court, the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: "I have lost my childhood because of what they did, and I will never get it back."
Police investigation and charges
Avon and Somerset Police said the crimes were reported after Groves, of Little Stoke, South Gloucestershire, was arrested for inappropriate communication with a child. The victim then revealed that she had been abused and raped by Groves over a number of years.
Groves was further arrested for those offences while they were in custody. Detectives launched an urgent investigation before Groves was charged on October 18 last year. They were found unanimously guilty of 19 separate non-recent offences against their victim following a trial on Friday, June 5. Meanwhile, specialist support services were put in place for the victim.
Full list of offences
Groves was convicted of:
- Four counts of the rape of a child (contrary to section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
- Four counts of sexual assault against a child.
- Two counts of assault of a child by penetration.
- Five counts of rape (contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
- Two counts of assault by penetration.
- One count of the possession of indecent photographs of a child.
- Attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child.
- Carrying out acts intended to pervert the course of public justice.
Victim impact statement
Groves' victim said in an impact statement which was read in court: "I felt that because Groves groomed me, I did not realise how serious what was going on was. They built up a relationship with me, and, in my head, I did not feel like it was enough for me to contact the police.
"People have said to me that I am not the bright, bubbly girl I once was, and I am just a shell of my former self. I don’t remember chunks of my childhood because of what Groves did, and this is because of the trauma I have been through.
"I have lost my childhood because of what they did, and I will never get it back."
Police commendation
DC Ben Perrett, from Avon and Somerset Police's Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said: "This has been an extremely distressing case involving the sustained abuse of a vulnerable young girl, who was targeted and manipulated by the offender over several years.
"Groves’ actions demonstrate a calculated pattern of grooming designed to gain trust and exert control. I would like to commend the victim for her exceptional bravery in coming forward and supporting the investigation.
"Her courage has been instrumental in securing this conviction and preventing further harm. I hope this result sends a clear message that we take offences of this nature extremely seriously. We will work tirelessly to protect vulnerable individuals and bring those responsible to justice."
