MAN DENIES DECADES-OLD SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES IN COURT
Ex-murderer on trial for sexual offences denies multiple charges A 65-year-old man, Allan Grimson, who is serving a life sentence for the murders of two men in the late 1990s, is currently standing trial at Winchester Crown Court facing a series of historical sexual offence charges.Grimson, a former petty officer, denies all allegations related to incidents that occurred between 1994 and 1999, including the rape of a teenager and indecent assaults on three male victims, one of whom was just 14 years old.
The charges include a rape alleged to have taken place in Hampshire or elsewhere between February 1, 1999, and November 30, 1999, against an 18-year-old man.
He also denies four counts of indecent assault against a second victim under 16, with incidents purportedly occurring in Hampshire or elsewhere between March 26, 1999, and October 31, 1999.
Additionally, Grimson maintains his innocence on two other counts of indecent assault involving victims in Tyne and Wear and Portsmouth during different periods in 1994 and 1998.
When first detained in December 1999, Grimson was questioned by authorities and initially confessed to touching a 14-year-old boy but later retracted his statement, claiming he was “confused.” In 2024, following new reports, he was re-arrested and re-interviewed.
A transcript of this interview was presented in court, during which Grimson admitted to taking an indecent photograph of a boy to mock and humiliate him, stating: “There was a situation with him, where I wanted to mock and ridicule him.
I did touch him inappropriately, and took a photograph of that.” He also acknowledged touching the boy once during a trip to Disneyland Paris, saying: “I only touched him the one time.
I just wanted to touch him, to be honest with you,” and explained his motive as an attempt to shame and out the boy as gay.
In addition to these allegations, Grimson revealed to police that he had “only” engaged in sexual activity with an underage child “once,” a statement that has been scrutinised in court.
The case was temporarily paused due to issues with the water supply, but proceedings are ongoing.
The judge, Michael Bowes KC, scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 14, with the trial set to commence on June 1, 2026.
The court warned Grimson that failing to provide a detailed defence or attending the trial could have adverse consequences and emphasised his right to give evidence during proceedings.
