ALEXANDER GRICE SHOCKS HOLSWORTHY AND EXETER WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND DARK WEB CRIMES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Holsworthy and the wider Exeter area, Alexander Grice, a former medical professional, has been sentenced to prison after a series of heinous crimes involving child abuse images and dark web activities.

Grice, aged 54, was employed as an anaesthetist at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital when he was caught engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal conduct during a routine hospital operation. A nurse, witnessing his behavior, reported him to hospital authorities, which led to a police investigation. It was during this inquiry that officers discovered Grice’s phone contained over 14,000 images and videos depicting child abuse, some of which were classified as the most severe category, showing children being raped and subjected to extreme acts.

The police investigation revealed that Grice had downloaded these illicit materials from the dark web, utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and an Onion router to mask his online identity and access chat rooms dedicated to sharing such disturbing content. The extent of his downloads was so vast that his device’s storage was filled, prompting him to transfer thousands of files to a computer hard drive. The material included videos of very young children being abused, some apparently in hospital settings, although police confirmed that Grice had merely downloaded these images rather than produced them.

Further inquiries uncovered that Grice had previously been involved in an incident at a French campsite in 2017, where he was found taking secret photographs at a shower block. Despite this, he was allowed to continue working at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, as the General Medical Council initially cleared him after he claimed to be suffering from a mental illness at the time of his offenses. He subsequently received treatment for his condition.

Following his arrest, Grice was dismissed from his position at the hospital. He later changed his surname to Knight and retrained as an electrician. His personal life has been deeply affected; his wife has divorced him, and he has been estranged from his family, who have shunned him in the wake of his crimes.

Legal proceedings culminated in Exeter Crown Court, where Judge David Evans sentenced Grice to a term of one year and eight months in prison. The court also ordered him to register as a sex offender and imposed a 10-year order allowing authorities to monitor his internet activity. During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the deliberate nature of Grice’s actions, noting his active participation in chat rooms and the disturbing content involving vulnerable children, some of whom appeared to be in pain or distress while being abused.

Prosecutor Miss Mary McCarthy detailed the investigation, which began on May 20, 2022, after a healthcare professional observed Grice watching a graphic video during a surgical procedure. The police found that Grice’s devices contained a staggering number of illicit images, with 3,423 classified as the worst category, and thousands more depicting non-penetrative abuse and naked or partially naked children.

Defense lawyer Mr. Nick Wragg highlighted Grice’s mental health struggles, asserting that these issues contributed to his offending. He pointed out that Grice’s actions had led to the breakdown of his marriage and the distancing of his children. Following his arrest, Grice attempted to take his own life but has since sought psychological help, funding 42 private therapy sessions to address his mental health problems.

Judge Evans concluded by condemning Grice’s actions, emphasizing the severity of the crimes and the impact on the victims, many of whom were very young and vulnerable. He expressed regret that Grice, once a successful professional, had lost his career, reputation, and family due to his actions, which he described as a deliberate and calculated breach of trust and morality.