July 2018 Former music teacher from Hope who had 300 indecent child images is spared prison A former music teacher who downloaded more than 300 child porn images has been spared a prison sentence. John Grindell from Hope was caught with the indecent images on a computer storage device when police executed a warrant at his mother’s home, where he lives. Prosecutor Michael Whitty told Mold Crown Court that police were alerted when an email and IP address linked to Grindell was found to have been used to upload indecent images of children in April last year. Police went around to Grindell’s home and although he denied any wrongdoing at first. Indecent images of children aged eight to 15 of category C were found when the computer equipment which was seized had been analysed The prosecutor said attempts had been made to delete the images and internet searches made by Grindell showed he had been searching for child pornography five or six times a week. Grindell, 54, of Fagl Lane, admitted making indecent photographs of children between February 2017 and February this year. Defence barrister Andrew Green said Grindell’s best mitigation was that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. “It reveals a sad and sorry picture as this is a man who clearly has serious problems and has had them for some time,” said the barrister. But he pointed out that while Grindell had breached a previously imposed community order he had since complied with it for “a significant period of time” he had also found work that brought routine to his life. “He lives with his elderly mother who has suffered from poor health and the impact of a custodial sentence will go beyond just him,” added Mr Green. As he sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Niclas Parry told Grindell: “You are a person who has a high risk of sexual offending and you pose a high risk to female children. “You were subject to a community order and almost immediately you embarked on this conduct.” Grindell was also ordered to undertake a 30-day rehabilitation activity. The judge revoked the community order imposed in February last year, but made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. November 2011 Teacher jailed after sex with girl, 14 A perverted teacher has been jailed for four years after he had sex with a girl of 14. A court heard music teacher John Grindell, 48, became infatuated with the girl. He gave her alcohol and when she was drunk he had sex with her. Grindell, also described as a music producer, was initially charged with rape, which he denied. But while on bail awaiting trial he set up a countdown of days to the girl’s 16th birthday on the internet when he hoped they could resume a relationship. Married Grindell was further arrested and remanded in custody, later pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child. Sentencing the married father of two, of Pettit Close, Cefnybedd, near Wrexham, Judge Gareth Jones said it was a grave breach of trust. He had considered sentencing him as a dangerous offender but decided to give him a determinate four year prison sentence. Grindell was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life and the judge also made a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, preventing him from contacting his victim or her parents. Grindell, who at the time taught at Maelor High School in Penley, will now be banned from working with children or vulnerable adults. The judge said he had become infatuated with the girl and there were elements of grooming. They had full sexual intercourse when she was 14, her first such experience, when she had drunk alcohol which had weakened her ability to resist. His behaviour had a dramatic effect on the child and her family. The judge said he took into account Grindell’s previous good character and testimonials written on his behalf, including one from his wife. He was earlier described as a respected musician, broadcaster and teacher who had performed on the Welsh pop music scene years before.