MICHAEL GRIFFIN FROM NEWBURY SENTENCED FOR ABUSING GIRLS IN SPENCERS WOOD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Newbury and the surrounding area, Michael Griffin, aged 42, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young girls. The crimes took place in Spencers Wood, where Griffin had befriended three girls aged between three and nine during the autumn of 2004.

According to court proceedings, Griffin lured these vulnerable children into his private space, where he subjected them to sexual abuse while they were engaged in seemingly innocent activities such as watching television and playing on a computer. The abuse was particularly sinister, with Griffin reportedly wrapping the girls in his duvet and touching them sexually in a manner that left lasting scars.

The police investigation uncovered more disturbing evidence when they seized Griffin’s computer. The device contained over 200 indecent images and video clips of children, including material depicting penetrative sex between an adult and a child. Griffin admitted that he had worked voluntarily as an administrator for an adult chatroom and claimed that his interest in child pornography was sparked by the high-profile case involving Gary Glitter.

During the trial, Griffin was found guilty of six counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and two counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court heard how Griffin’s actions had a profound impact on the victims, who are still struggling to cope with the trauma. A relative of one of the girls, who requested anonymity, expressed her relief at the sentence outside Reading Crown Court. She said, “No sentence will ever be long enough, but I feel relieved justice has finally been done for these children. He (Griffin) has been locked up and won’t be able to harm other children and put them through the suffering our family has been through.”

She also spoke about the emotional toll on the girls, stating, “They get very sad and tearful. I am worried about the long-term effects but hopefully we can all get our lives back together. What he did to these children was horrendous. The devil comes in many disguises. I thought he was a nice person but got it all so badly wrong.”

Judge Stanley Spence, presiding over the case, described Griffin as “a dangerous paedophile” who committed “a despicable act” and posed a serious risk to the public. In his sentencing remarks, the judge condemned Griffin for forcing the girls to testify and for subjecting them to emotional distress. He dismissed Griffin’s claim that he was researching for personal reasons, stating, “I completely reject your ridiculous suggestion of research – you did it because you have an unhealthy interest in young girls.”

As part of his sentence, Griffin was ordered never to be alone with a child under 16, including relatives, unless a parent or guardian was present. He was also prohibited from contacting the victims, from residing in or visiting Spencers Wood until the victims turned 16, and from any form of communication with children, including via the internet. Additionally, Griffin was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Following the sentencing, Thames Valley Police’s child protection officer, DC Jayne Payne, commented, “This sentence really reflects justice for these three delightful little girls. They came forward and gave evidence in court, which in itself is traumatic, but told the truth and the jury made the correct verdict.”