JOHN MCGRATH BUSTED IN BIRMINGHAM: HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AND POLICE FAILURES REVEALED
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, John McGrath, a known sex offender from Birmingham, was implicated in the abuse of a four-year-old girl, raising serious questions about police procedures and the handling of sex offenders in the region.According to an internal investigation report released by West Mercia Police, McGrath's case highlights significant shortcomings in the way authorities managed his criminal history and monitored his movements.
The 49-year-old homeless man, who had a long and troubling criminal record, was allowed to register his address as a park bench, a decision that would later prove to have devastating consequences.
McGrath had been arrested multiple times in the week leading up to the assault, specifically three times for being drunk and disorderly.
Despite these arrests, he was released each time, a decision that has come under scrutiny.
His criminal record includes 98 previous convictions, notably for serious offenses such as assault with intent to rape and a sexual attack on a policewoman.
These convictions underscored the danger he posed, yet the system failed to prevent him from reoffending.
Prior to the attack, McGrath had been living rough in the Midlands, with his official address registered as a public park bench.
This allowed him to move freely from Birmingham to Redditch, where his young victim resided.
The child's mother, showing concern and compassion, had initially invited McGrath into her home after seeing him begging in a subway.
She later discovered him abusing her daughter, a revelation that has left the community in shock.
Investigations revealed that despite his repeated arrests, police officers from West Mercia Police did not recognize McGrath as a registered sex offender during his encounters.
The internal inquiry found that while officers conducted basic local checks and used the Police National Computer, they failed to identify his status on the Sex Offenders' Register.
This oversight meant that authorities did not contact West Midlands Police, who could have tracked his movements and potentially prevented the tragedy.
A source familiar with the case explained, “His last sexual conviction before the attack on the girl was an attack on a policewoman.
After that, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, but because he was homeless, he registered his address as a Birmingham park bench.
If West Mercia officers had realized he was a sex offender in Birmingham, they would have been required to notify West Midlands Police, who could have investigated his whereabouts.” McGrath’s criminal history includes a conviction in 1997 for assault with intent to rape, for which he served four years in prison.
It was in the autumn of 2006 that he moved from Birmingham to Redditch.
The young girl’s mother recounted how she had encountered McGrath begging in a subway and, out of kindness, invited him into her home, offering him a meal and a place to stay.
Tragically, this act of compassion was followed by a horrifying discovery: McGrath was found naked in bed with her semi-clad daughter.
Initially, McGrath was charged with attempted rape, but the case was not pursued.
Instead, he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child at Worcester Crown Court in June 2007.
The court heard that he had molested the girl within hours of being invited into the family’s home, holding her mouth and wrapping his arms around her waist while uttering the chilling words, “You’re spoiling my fun.” As the judge sentenced him, McGrath wept, receiving an indeterminate sentence for public protection, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to society.
The case has prompted calls for a review of police procedures and the management of sex offenders, especially those who are homeless and difficult to track, to prevent such tragedies from recurring in the future.
