June 2017 Pervert who abused children handed himself in to police A pervert who handed himself in to police and confessed to abusing a child more than a decade before has finally been sentenced. Craig Alan Grayson, 30, was handed a two-year jail term at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday. However, a judge announced that he expected Grayson to be released almost immediately having served the required half of that term in custody. During a previous hearing, the court was told how Grayson had, in early 2016, suddenly confessed to crimes committed more than 10 years previously. “He walked into Workington police station and told police he had abused a young girl,” said prosecutor Robert Wyn Jones. “He was tearful, had his head in his hands and said he had done something wrong.” Grayson was “feeling guilty”, and went on to admit four child sex assault charges. But there were numerous delays before he could be sentenced at the crown court. At today’s hearing Judge Peter Hughes QC noted Grayson had undergone a number of assessments. During these, Grayson had “admitted to having thoughts of a sexual nature concerning the potential commission of further serious sexual offences”. He had also been bailed to a hostel, where staff were concerned about his mental condition. Grayson was detained in a psychiatric hospital under the Mental Health Act. But specialists concluded he was not mentally ill and he was returned to prison. An eminent psychiatrist had then concluded that Grayson’s symptoms were “contrived” and he was “presenting a feigned psychosis”. Jamie Baxter, defending, said Grayson, previously of Brakeside Gardens, Whitehaven, had shown “remorse” and “never wavered” from his admissions of guilt. Judge Hughes stood by his initial indication of a two-year prison term, concluding that he did not feel able to go beyond that. Grayson was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, and is subject to the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time. “I anticipate he will be released from prison virtually immediately,” Judge Hughes stated. “Every step should be taken to make sure he is properly monitored.” May 2017 Man confesses to historic sex assault on girl A guilt-ridden sex offender walked into a Cumbrian police station to confess – more than a decade after committing his crimes. Craig Alan Grayson, 30, was so overcome by his feelings of guilt that he sobbed uncontrollably after surrendering himself at Workington’s police station early last year, Carlisle Crown Court was told. He explained to the officers that he had been a 17-year-old when he committed the sex offence against a child. The details of his surprise admission emerged during the court hearing, held a year after it was made because the defendant has been held in custody since he first spoke to officers about his crimes. Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, told the court: “He walked into Workington police station and told police he had abused a young girl. He was tearful, had his head in his hands and said he had done something wrong.” Grayson was “feeling guilty”, the court heard. When arrested and cautioned, he was red-faced and crying. “He said to police in the custody suite that he was sexually interested in children,” said Mr Wyn Jones. “He confessed to having sexual feelings for children and urges to abuse them. He was very upset during the booking-in process.” When he appeared before magistrates, Grayson admitted four counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13. His crimes were deemed to be so serious that he was sent to the crown court although Grayson, previously of Brakeside Gardens, Whitehaven, is yet to be sentenced. Judge Peter Hughes QC noted that the defendant had already served the equivalent of a two-year jail term, having been remanded in custody last May. He had previously adjourned passing sentence. He had asked the Probation Service to offer its view of how Grayson could be best managed once released from prison, with appropriate safeguarding and protection measures. Judge Hughes adjourned sentence until tomorrow because some of the relevant background information has yet to be established for the court.