By Emmanuel Thomas I 13 July 2026
A HIGH-RANKING church leader who used his powerful positions of trust to groom and sexually abuse vulnerable young men for more than 40 years has finally been brought to justice.
John Grant, 77, a prominent and highly influential figure in Baptist communities across the UK, was convicted today at Wood Green Crown Court of a string of horrific historical sexual offences.
But Scotland Yard fears this is just the tip of a monstrous iceberg. Detectives have launched a nationwide appeal to track down further potential victim-survivors, warning that Grant’s extensive web of church networks may mean a “considerable number” of other men were targeted by the prolific predator.
For over four decades, Grant wore the mask of a holy, community-minded man of God. In reality, he was a calculating predator who operated under the radar from 1970 until 2012.
The court heard how Grant, of Colney Hatch Lane, Hornsey, used his status as a church deacon, youth group leader, and regional preacher to identify, isolate, and systematically groom vulnerable young men.
Today, a jury found him guilty of:
Three counts of sexual assault
Six counts of indecent assault
Two counts of causing another person to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
He has been remanded in custody and will face sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 11 September.
The shield of respectability around Grant finally shattered in 2023 when a brave victim-survivor went to the Metropolitan Police. The man revealed he had been subjected to a relentless 30-year campaign of abuse at the hands of the church leader.
The horror began in 1994 when the victim moved into a shared house with Grant. The court heard that after two other housemates moved out, Grant’s behaviour turned sinister.
He began aggressively pressuring the young man for “massages” that quickly escalated into sexual touching.
Though the victim desperately rejected the advances and managed to escape the house in 1998, circumstances forced him to return in 1999. Grant immediately resumed his abusive behavior, using coercive control to keep the victim trapped in a cycle of abuse that lasted until 2012.
Following this initial, harrowing disclosure, Met detectives launched a massive, meticulous investigation. They began digging into Grant’s extensive past, tracking his movements through various religious institutions spanning generations.
What they uncovered was a terrifyingly consistent pattern. Grant used identical, calculated grooming tactics to exert total control over vulnerable young men before violating them.
Through these extensive enquiries, officers managed to trace three more victim-survivors, taking the total number of courageous complainants in this trial to four.
Detectives believe Grant’s high-status roles granted him unfettered access to countless young people across the United Kingdom.
At the height of his influence, Grant served as the Moderator for the London Baptist Association based at Muswell Hill Baptist Church in north London.
This powerful executive position meant Grant didn’t just operate in one building—he stood in as a moderator for numerous other churches in the district and regularly preached across north London, putting him in contact with hundreds of congregation members.
In addition to Muswell Hill, police have mapped out Grant’s lifelong links to multiple other churches and youth groups across the country, including:
Broomsknoll Church of Scotland in Airdrie (between 1965 and 1970) Ward Green Baptist Church in Barnsley (between 1973 and 1984) Billingham Baptist Church in Stockton-on-Tees, Multiple youth groups throughout north London.
Following today’s conviction, Scotland Yard praised the immense bravery of the men who stood up to their abuser, while imploring anyone else who may have fallen victim to Grant to speak out.
Detective Constable Liam Levy, who led the grueling investigation, said:
“This is a deeply distressing case involving a number of non-recent sexual offences, and I would like to recognise the courage and bravery shown by the victim-survivors in coming forward and putting their trust in us.
”This conviction would not have been possible without their accounts that were provided in the early stages of the investigation, which helped identify the scale of Grant’s prolific offending across more than four decades.
”The victim-survivors were vulnerable young men who put their trust in Grant through his church association, and it is devastating they could be taken advantage of in this way.”
DC Levy issued a direct message to anyone else who may still be suffering in silence: “As this case demonstrates, the Met is firmly committed to investigating all reports of rape and 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.”
If you have any information or wish to report historical offences relating to John Grant, please contact the Metropolitan Police immediately.
Police Hotline: Call 101 quoting reference CAD3277/08JUL26.
Crimestoppers: To remain 100% anonymous, call 0800 555 111.
Confidential Support: If you have been affected by sexual abuse, the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line offers free, confidential phone and online chat for anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales. Call 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
