HORSHAM PAEDOPHILE MARK GRINDON SENTENCED FOR NEARLY 50,000 CHILD SEX IMAGES AND SICK FANTASIES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community near Horsham, Mark Grindon, a known sex offender, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing an alarming collection of child sexual abuse images and engaging in highly disturbing online activities. Grindon, who has a long history of offending, was found to be in possession of nearly 47,000 indecent images of children, along with extreme pornography that included bestiality, during a police search of his residence close to Horsham.

His criminal record dates back to at least 2016, when he was first convicted at Chichester Crown Court for making indecent images of children. Despite being given a suspended prison sentence and being placed on the sex offenders register, Grindon was subject to strict restrictions, including a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that limited his contact with minors and his access to computers without police monitoring. Nevertheless, he continued to breach these orders, raising serious concerns about his ongoing risk to children.

Further investigations revealed that Grindon had created an alias, Eddie Gardener, on an online dating platform, through which he attempted to contact women who had children. Police reports indicated that he was actively seeking out social media profiles of young girls, primarily aged between 11 and 15, on platforms like Instagram. Although there was no evidence that he had directly contacted these girls, his online activity was deemed highly inappropriate and concerning.

Authorities uncovered additional disturbing evidence during a search of his home in Mannings Heath, near Horsham. Hidden behind a false shelf in his bathroom, police discovered a collection of items that included camera phones, a GoPro camera, a camcorder, a girl’s leotard, and a child sex doll. These items underscored the extent of Grindon’s sick interests and his attempts to indulge in his depraved fantasies.

In court proceedings held at Hove Crown Court on May 17, Grindon, now 37 and unemployed, was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The sentence followed a guilty plea to charges including possession of 46,986 indecent images, breaching his SHPO, and violating the notification requirements of his sex offender registration. The police forensic examination of his digital devices, seized during his arrest in 2019, was instrumental in uncovering the full extent of his illegal activities.

His criminal history is extensive. In 2016, he was convicted of making indecent images of children, which resulted in a suspended sentence. Later, in 2019, he was jailed for breaching his SHPO by following and spying on young girls aged between 11 and 15 on Instagram, despite warnings not to use computers for such activities. Police found that Grindon had been viewing more than 30 girls online, mainly in ballet or leotard outfits, but there was no evidence of direct contact.

During the latest sentencing, prosecutors highlighted the severity of Grindon’s offenses, which included possessing category A images depicting the most heinous forms of child abuse and even extreme pornography involving animals, which was described as “grossly offensive and obscene.” The case was deemed so serious that it was sent to the Crown Court for sentencing, where Grindon was remanded to prison for 13 months.

Throughout his criminal career, Grindon has repeatedly violated court orders and his obligations under the sex offenders register. His actions have demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending, despite previous convictions and restrictions. Authorities emphasize that such offenders are under constant surveillance, and breaches are taken very seriously to protect the community, especially vulnerable children. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Grindon, whose sickening activities continue to be uncovered through diligent police work and forensic investigations.