BEN GRIMWOOD SENTENCED IN SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRL
| Red Rose Database
South Woodham Ferrers Child Sexual Abuser
In September 2017, a disturbing case emerged from South Woodham Ferrers involving a young man named Ben Grimwood, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses against a minor. The incident began to unfold when Grimwood, then a 19-year-old RAF cadet, engaged in a series of inappropriate and predatory behaviors towards a 13-year-old girl, whom he had been communicating with via Facebook Messenger.
Initially, their online interactions appeared benign, but the tone quickly shifted as Grimwood started asking the girl explicit questions, urging her to 'talk dirty,' send revealing photographs, and disclose her bra size. The situation escalated in February 2015 when Grimwood took the heinous step of sending the girl a video of himself pleasuring himself, fully aware of her young age. Evidence presented in court revealed that Grimwood was aware of her age because he explicitly asked her, claiming he wanted to understand their age difference. He also inquired about her exposure to pornography and her sexual experiences, further demonstrating his predatory intent.
In November 2015, Grimwood's criminal behavior intensified when he lured the girl into a secluded orchard after a cadet meeting. According to court reports, Grimwood took her by the arm and led her into the isolated area, where they began kissing. The victim described how Grimwood started touching her inappropriately, including touching her bottom and putting his hand inside her top. The assault continued as he took her hands and forced her to masturbate him, with Grimwood claiming that the acts took place over clothing. This assault marked a significant escalation in his predatory conduct.
The police became involved after a case worker from Essex Child Services was informed of the incident. The information was overheard when the girl confided in a friend about the assault, prompting an investigation. During the court proceedings, the victim's impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound psychological toll the assault had taken on her. She described suffering from severe flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and an inability to move past what had happened.
Ben Grimwood, of Keats Square in South Woodham Ferrers, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of causing a child to watch sexual activity. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. However, the sentence was suspended for 24 months, meaning Grimwood would not serve time immediately but would be monitored for that period.
In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Grimwood was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid community work and participate in 40 days of rehabilitative programs aimed at addressing his behavior. He was also subjected to a three-month curfew, requiring him to remain at his parents' residence between 7 pm and 6 am. As part of his sentence, Grimwood will be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years.
During the sentencing, Judge Peters addressed the victim's mother from the public gallery, emphasizing that while the court recognized the severity of the crimes, it was also committed to ensuring Grimwood's rehabilitation and future integration into society. The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predators like Grimwood, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his young victim.
Initially, their online interactions appeared benign, but the tone quickly shifted as Grimwood started asking the girl explicit questions, urging her to 'talk dirty,' send revealing photographs, and disclose her bra size. The situation escalated in February 2015 when Grimwood took the heinous step of sending the girl a video of himself pleasuring himself, fully aware of her young age. Evidence presented in court revealed that Grimwood was aware of her age because he explicitly asked her, claiming he wanted to understand their age difference. He also inquired about her exposure to pornography and her sexual experiences, further demonstrating his predatory intent.
In November 2015, Grimwood's criminal behavior intensified when he lured the girl into a secluded orchard after a cadet meeting. According to court reports, Grimwood took her by the arm and led her into the isolated area, where they began kissing. The victim described how Grimwood started touching her inappropriately, including touching her bottom and putting his hand inside her top. The assault continued as he took her hands and forced her to masturbate him, with Grimwood claiming that the acts took place over clothing. This assault marked a significant escalation in his predatory conduct.
The police became involved after a case worker from Essex Child Services was informed of the incident. The information was overheard when the girl confided in a friend about the assault, prompting an investigation. During the court proceedings, the victim's impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound psychological toll the assault had taken on her. She described suffering from severe flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and an inability to move past what had happened.
Ben Grimwood, of Keats Square in South Woodham Ferrers, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of causing a child to watch sexual activity. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. However, the sentence was suspended for 24 months, meaning Grimwood would not serve time immediately but would be monitored for that period.
In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Grimwood was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid community work and participate in 40 days of rehabilitative programs aimed at addressing his behavior. He was also subjected to a three-month curfew, requiring him to remain at his parents' residence between 7 pm and 6 am. As part of his sentence, Grimwood will be registered as a sex offender for the next ten years.
During the sentencing, Judge Peters addressed the victim's mother from the public gallery, emphasizing that while the court recognized the severity of the crimes, it was also committed to ensuring Grimwood's rehabilitation and future integration into society. The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors from predators like Grimwood, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his young victim.