JONATHAN GRAVES EXPOSED: EASTBOURNE PRIEST GUILTY OF DECADES-OLD CHILD ABUSE IN SUSSEX

A disturbing case has come to light involving Jonathan Graves, a man once serving as a Church of England priest, who has been found guilty of heinous acts of torture and sexual abuse committed against two young boys during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The conviction highlights a dark chapter from Graves' past, which has only now been brought to justice.

Jonathan Graves, aged 60 and residing on Jervis Avenue in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was convicted of a series of serious criminal offenses that spanned from 1987 to 1992. The court proceedings revealed that Graves, who was at the time the vicar at St Luke's Church located in the Stone Cross area, engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior towards the boys, who were between the ages of 12 and 14. The court found that Graves used physical restraint methods, including belts and straps, to subdue his victims before subjecting them to physical beatings.

The court heard detailed accounts of how Graves manipulated and groomed his young victims. He would often ply them with alcohol, creating an environment of vulnerability and confusion. Additionally, Graves employed manipulative tactics, tricking the boys into participating in sadistic forfeit games, which further exploited their innocence and trust. These actions were part of a calculated pattern of grooming and abuse that left lasting scars on the victims.

In the course of the trial, Graves was convicted of 12 separate offenses related to his abuse of the two boys. The court also noted that Graves was cleared of five other similar charges, including an incident of indecent assault on a 50-year-old woman in 2002. The nine-day trial provided a comprehensive account of Graves' manipulative and abusive behavior, which had remained hidden for decades.

Graves' initial arrest occurred in 2005, following a complaint from one of the victims. The investigation uncovered a disturbing history of misconduct, leading to his temporary suspension from working within Sussex churches in 2008. The Sussex Police Public Protection Command, led by Detective Inspector Jon Gross, commented on the case, emphasizing that Graves' past had finally caught up with him.

Det Insp Gross stated, "The evidence in this case has revealed how he used his position to select his victims and befriend them before callously abusing them for his own sexual gratification. His crimes have had a lasting impact upon those he abused. The hurt caused by the sexual abuse itself has undoubtedly been compounded by the psychological scars of the abuser being a trusted and influential figure in each of the victims' lives."

As Graves awaits sentencing scheduled for the upcoming Monday, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance within community institutions and the devastating effects of abuse by those in positions of trust.