Abusive church deacon, 77, who preyed on homeless men for 40 years is jailed as cops fear he had more victims

A DISGRACED church deacon who deacon preyed on homeless men and abused them has been jailed for eight years.

Vile John Grant, 77, who was also a youth group leader, groomed vulnerable young men over a period of more than 40 years.

Grant was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault, six of indecent of indecent assault and two counts of causing a victim to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, back in July.

Now, he has been sentenced for the offences which related to four victims aged between 18 and 25, from 1970 to 2012.

And police are now appearing for more potential victims to come forward.

Grant was put behind bars for eight years, and was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

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The first complaint about Grant came in the 70s when he was a leader at Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees.

His victim told church seniors he had been assaulted but they dealt with it internally, giving Grant a slap on the wrist.

In 1984, he moved to Muswell Hill Baptist Church and six years later he told deacons that he had inappropriately touched a young man.

He only admitted it after his victim threatened to tell church leaders and, even then, downplayed it, claiming he touched him “too far up his leg”.

The church however, suggested he get counselling but it’s not known if any help was offered to his victim.

It comes after we revealed that cops fear he could have victims all over the UK after his abuse went on for more than four decades.

One of his victims had already died but police managed to secure a conviction on evidence given by others, including his wife.

Cops want more potential victims to come forward from both Billingham and Muswell Hill as well as Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie, which Grant attended between 1965 and 1970, and Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley, where he went between 1973 and 1984.

His most senior role was at Muswell where he was a moderator for the London Baptist Association, which saw him preach at other churches around the area.

How to report a sexual assault

Contact a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery.
Contact a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership.
Call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247.
Speak to the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year).

Detective Chief Inspector Elsa Mak, whose team led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentencing follows an extensive investigation by the Met into Grant’s offending and shows our commitment to bringing offenders to justice.

“We would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim-survivors who have already come forward.

“Their experiences and accounts directly shaped our investigation while it was in its early stages, and we thank them for putting their trust in us to help identify the scale of Grant’s prolific offending across four decades.

“The Met remains committed to investigating all reports of rape and serious sexual offences, even if they occurred many years ago.

“Any victim-survivor that comes forward will be treated with dignity, compassion and sensitivity at every step of the way.”

The first complaint to police came in 2023 and cops managed to track down other victims, including one who had an altercation with the ex-deacon in 2008.

The London Baptist Association previously said it was “deeply saddened” by the conviction, adding they “unreservedly condemn his actions and stand alongside those whose lives have been profoundly affected by them”.

Dominique Burrell from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The way John Grant abused his position as a trusted religious leader to prey on young men in his community was calculated and predatory.

“He targeted teenagers through youth groups, and befriended vulnerable young men in financial hardship – all to create opportunities so that he could assault them.

“He manufactured these relationships for his own gratification and it would have been clear that none of the victims consented to his sexual touching and inappropriate behaviour.

“Grant’s offending has had a lasting impact on the victims in this case, and I would like to commend them all for speaking about what happened to them.

“We understand it can be difficult to come forward, but it is because of the strength of their evidence that we have been able to hold him to account.