STEPHEN GRANT FROM MIRFIELD DIES IN THAILAND WHERE HE WORKED IN SCHOOLS DESPITE SEX OFFENSES

In August 2015, the life of Stephen Grant, a man with a troubling past linked to serious sexual offenses, came to an end in Thailand. Grant, formerly a resident of Mirfield and once a town councillor, had been working at a school in Bangkok when he suddenly collapsed and subsequently died in a hospital. His death has raised questions and shed light on his complex and disturbing history, which only became fully known after his passing.

It has emerged that Grant was employed at the Assumption Thonburi College, a prestigious private high school in Thailand, where he was teaching English. Interestingly, he used the name David Grant during his employment there, concealing his true identity and past. Despite a court ban in the UK that prohibited him from having contact with children, Grant managed to secure this position, raising concerns about the vetting process and the extent of his deception.

Details of Grant’s background only surfaced after his death. A former colleague, Ken Glickman, who had worked alongside him at Assumption Thonburi College and was unaware of his criminal history, learned the truth through a conversation with Grant’s mother in West Yorkshire. Glickman described Grant as a “phoney” and a “fraud,” expressing his shock at discovering the extent of Grant’s deception. He stated, “I had never doubted what he said and saw what an excellent teacher he was, but now I know he tricked his way into the school.” Glickman further explained that it was only after Grant’s death and his discussion with Grant’s family that he realized something was amiss, prompting him to investigate further.

Prior to his employment at Assumption, Grant had worked at Satit Udomsueka Academy in Pattaya, Thailand, also under the alias David Grant. His tenure there ended when he was dismissed due to inappropriate behavior with students. His employment history also includes positions at a Thai government school in Bangkok and in China. These roles, however, are overshadowed by his criminal record.

In 2009, Grant, then aged 31, was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for manipulating boys into sending him indecent images. His crimes involved pretending to be a teenage girl named Charlotte, who supposedly needed a boyfriend, to lure young boys into sexual conversations. In reality, Grant was the one making sexual suggestions at the other end of the line. He admitted his guilt in a confession box and was advised by a priest to surrender himself to authorities.

The case was prosecuted at Leeds Crown Court, where Grant pleaded guilty to eight charges of inciting children to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust, covering the period from December 2007 to July 2008. As part of his sentence, he received a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, which barred him from working with children, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Despite his criminal conviction, Grant managed to find employment abroad. After his release from prison, he initially worked in China before securing positions at two different schools in Thailand. His former colleague, Glickman, expressed outrage over Grant’s employment history, stating, “He told me he had been suspended from the Satit Academy in Pattaya for using corporal punishment on a boy, but after he died, the school told me it was for inappropriate behavior.” Glickman emphasized his own dedication to nurturing and encouraging young children, expressing his horror that someone with such a background was allowed to work in educational institutions.

Grant’s criminal activities, which included deceiving and exploiting young boys, cast a long shadow over his career. His case highlights the ongoing issues of vetting and monitoring individuals working with children, especially in international settings where background checks may be less rigorous. His death in Thailand marks the end of a troubling chapter, but the questions surrounding how he was able to continue working despite his past remain a serious concern for authorities and the educational community alike.