DAVID GRANT: WESTCLIFF PREDATOR AND SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC AND RECENT CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN ESSEX

In a disturbing case that spans decades, David Grant, a 66-year-old man from Westcliff, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offences involving young girls. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that persisted over many years, with authorities failing to intervene effectively at critical moments.

Grant’s criminal activities first came to light during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Between 1985 and 1990, he subjected a seven-year-old girl to a series of sexual assaults. The abuse was uncovered in 1990 when the young girl confided in her mother, showing her drawings that depicted the acts she had endured. Her general practitioner was informed of her disclosures, prompting a call to police and social services. However, despite the seriousness of the allegations, no immediate action was taken, largely because the girl was reluctant to proceed to court, fearing the repercussions of testifying.

Despite the lack of formal intervention at that time, Grant continued to have access to the young girl, although no further abuse was reported during this period. The case remained unresolved for years, until recent revelations prompted renewed investigation.

In February of the same year, Grant was sentenced to six years in prison for a separate campaign of sexual abuse against another young victim, which occurred between 2012 and 2016. During that trial, it was disclosed that Grant, often referred to by the nickname “Totty,” traveled to Thailand on sex tourism trips, where he took covert photographs of children on beaches. These activities further underscored his pattern of predatory behavior and international offending.

The recent case came to light after the victim, now an adult woman, read a newspaper article detailing Grant’s previous convictions. This prompted her to come forward and report her own experiences of abuse. In November of the previous year, she disclosed her allegations to her family and subsequently to the police. Her mother was shown drawings by the victim that depicted the abuse, which led to police and social services becoming involved once again.

During her police interview, the victim was reluctant to proceed with the allegations, citing fear and trauma, but she eventually provided a detailed account of her suffering. Her statement revealed that the abuse had a profound and lasting impact on her mental health. She described struggling with anxiety, withdrawal, and substance abuse, including binge drinking and drug use, which began at age 17. She also recounted unhealthy relationships with men who were physically and emotionally abusive, illustrating the deep scars left by Grant’s actions.

Judge David Pugh, presiding over the case, acknowledged the significant and enduring harm caused to the victim. He noted that if the charges had been admitted at the time of Grant’s earlier sentencing in February, he would have imposed a sentence of ten years. The judge emphasized the ongoing risk Grant posed to children and the serious effects his crimes had on the victim, including anxiety, self-harm, and damaged relationships.

Grant was sentenced to an additional four years for the new offences, to run consecutively to his previous six-year sentence. Furthermore, he will be subject to an extended five-year license period upon release, reflecting the court’s concern about his potential for further offending.

In a related case from July 2017, Grant was described as an “evil predator” who secretly filmed himself abusing a young girl during his trips to Thailand. This campaign of abuse spanned two years, even after he was arrested and bailed for possessing child pornography. Police investigations uncovered videos and thousands of images depicting sexual assaults on children, including footage of the victim asleep while a man performed a sex act.

Grant’s arrest followed an incident in August of the previous year, when he accidentally uploaded two Category C images of children to Facebook. During police interviews, he admitted to finding underage girls “attractive and pretty,” and expressed no remorse for his actions, claiming that both he and the girl “enjoyed it.” Despite being released on bail with conditions not to contact children, Grant continued to have access to his victim and ignored these restrictions.

Authorities found extensive evidence on his seized computer devices, including videos of sexual acts involving the girl, as well as images of other children. The material included over 2,000 images of children aged between eight and twelve being sexually abused, with some classified as Category A and B images. Grant admitted to multiple counts of sexual assault, possession of indecent images, and making indecent photographs of children. His actions demonstrated a sustained pattern of abuse over at least 30 occasions.

Judge Ian Graham sentenced Grant to six years in prison, with an extended three-year license period. The judge highlighted Grant’s lack of remorse and the significant risk he posed to children, emphasizing that his continued offending could cause serious harm. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing danger he represents to the community.