STEVEN GRICE FROM BATH AND TIPTON FREED AFTER SEX OFFENSES IN WEST MIDLANDS AND LONDON

In February 2011, a significant legal development occurred involving Steven Grice, a man with a troubling criminal history linked to Bath and Tipton. Grice, who was previously sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment, was released following an appeal that challenged the severity of his original sentence.

The incident that led to his initial detention took place in October 2009 at an Asda supermarket located in Tipton, within the West Midlands. The court heard that Grice, then 30 years old and residing at Grosvenor Place, had a history of sexual offenses prior to this event. During the supermarket visit, he was accompanied by his father but managed to slip away under the pretext of purchasing cheese. Once alone, Grice targeted a 12-year-old girl who was with her parents. He approached her and inappropriately patted her on the bottom three times after she had become separated from her family. The young girl was visibly distressed, immediately crying and informing her father of the assault.

Following the incident, Grice returned to his father and requested the car keys, claiming he was feeling unwell. However, his behavior soon drew attention when he became involved in an altercation with another shopper. Security personnel intervened, and the victim identified Grice as her attacker. The court proceedings revealed that Grice had a long history of sexual misconduct, with 13 prior convictions for offenses including indecent exposure and public indecency. Notably, in April 2009, just months before the supermarket assault, he was convicted of sexual assault and exposure, receiving a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence. Additionally, Grice had been legally prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Initially, Wolverhampton Crown Court sentenced Grice to an indefinite period of detention for public protection, a sentence comparable to life imprisonment, after he admitted to sexually assaulting a child under 13. However, this sentence was later challenged in the Court of Appeal. Senior judges, including Sir Hugh Bennett, reviewed the case and determined that the open-ended sentence was not appropriate, even considering Grice’s extensive criminal record. The court emphasized that while the offense was serious, it did not warrant such a severe and indefinite punishment.

As a result of the appeal, the original sentence was replaced with a standard two-year prison term. Since Grice had already served approximately one year and four months, he was immediately released from custody. The court’s decision marked a significant turn in the case, highlighting the ongoing debate over sentencing severity for repeat offenders with a history of sexual crimes. The case underscores the importance of judicial discretion and the complexities involved in balancing punishment with rehabilitation and legal standards.