ROBERTO GRIMSHAW AXMINSTER CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE SHOCKS DEVON COMMUNITY
| Red Rose Database
Axminster Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the town of Axminster and the wider Devon community, Robert Grimshaw, a 29-year-old resident of Foxhills, Axminster, was found guilty of heinous sexual abuse against a three-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in January 2020, involved Grimshaw entering the family home uninvited after an argument with his girlfriend, and engaging in acts of sexual assault against the young child.
According to court proceedings, the young girl was brave enough to provide a detailed account of the assault, which was recorded on video for police evidence. She described how Grimshaw entered her room in the middle of the night and touched her private parts. The child used body maps to illustrate the specific areas of abuse to specially trained police officers, providing crucial evidence that contributed to the conviction.
Remarkably, the girl did not have to appear in person at Exeter Crown Court for her testimony. Instead, her cross-examination was pre-recorded and played to the jury, ensuring her safety and comfort during the trial. The case was prosecuted by Mr. Peter Coombe, who outlined that the assault occurred on the night of January 9, 2020, when Grimshaw arrived uninvited at the family’s residence in East Devon and was permitted to stay overnight.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the young girl woke her mother in the middle of the night, asking her to remove a Toy Story video that Grimshaw had played while touching her. At that time, she did not disclose the abuse. It was only the following day that she confided in her mother, and subsequently, she provided a recorded interview to the police. In her statement, she explained that she no longer watches Toy Story because it reminds her of that traumatic night.
The girl’s parents testified that she was deeply disturbed by the incident, to the extent that they had to re-arrange her bedroom and set up trip wires to prevent intruders from reaching her bed. Forensic analysis of her pajamas revealed Grimshaw’s DNA on the inside, linking him directly to the crime. Despite his claims that he had only touched her pajamas after they were left outside her room and denying any assault, the jury found him guilty unanimously.
Judge David Evans addressed Grimshaw in court, emphasizing that the conviction was based on overwhelming evidence. Grimshaw will face sentencing in March, with a probation report currently being prepared. An updated report on the ongoing impact of the abuse on the young girl will also be presented at that time. The girl has been unable to access counseling during the court proceedings but will begin receiving support immediately following the sentencing. The case has left the Axminster community and the wider Devon area grappling with the serious implications of such a disturbing crime.
According to court proceedings, the young girl was brave enough to provide a detailed account of the assault, which was recorded on video for police evidence. She described how Grimshaw entered her room in the middle of the night and touched her private parts. The child used body maps to illustrate the specific areas of abuse to specially trained police officers, providing crucial evidence that contributed to the conviction.
Remarkably, the girl did not have to appear in person at Exeter Crown Court for her testimony. Instead, her cross-examination was pre-recorded and played to the jury, ensuring her safety and comfort during the trial. The case was prosecuted by Mr. Peter Coombe, who outlined that the assault occurred on the night of January 9, 2020, when Grimshaw arrived uninvited at the family’s residence in East Devon and was permitted to stay overnight.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the young girl woke her mother in the middle of the night, asking her to remove a Toy Story video that Grimshaw had played while touching her. At that time, she did not disclose the abuse. It was only the following day that she confided in her mother, and subsequently, she provided a recorded interview to the police. In her statement, she explained that she no longer watches Toy Story because it reminds her of that traumatic night.
The girl’s parents testified that she was deeply disturbed by the incident, to the extent that they had to re-arrange her bedroom and set up trip wires to prevent intruders from reaching her bed. Forensic analysis of her pajamas revealed Grimshaw’s DNA on the inside, linking him directly to the crime. Despite his claims that he had only touched her pajamas after they were left outside her room and denying any assault, the jury found him guilty unanimously.
Judge David Evans addressed Grimshaw in court, emphasizing that the conviction was based on overwhelming evidence. Grimshaw will face sentencing in March, with a probation report currently being prepared. An updated report on the ongoing impact of the abuse on the young girl will also be presented at that time. The girl has been unable to access counseling during the court proceedings but will begin receiving support immediately following the sentencing. The case has left the Axminster community and the wider Devon area grappling with the serious implications of such a disturbing crime.