BERNARD GRAINGER FROM BROUGHTON SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEX ABUSE IN GRIMSBY

In March 2017, a former town councillor from Broughton was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse against a young girl. Bernard Grainger, aged 69 and residing on George Street in Broughton, was found guilty of engaging in inappropriate and criminal acts at his own residence, as determined by a jury during a trial held at Grimsby Crown Court.

Prosecutor Craig Lowe outlined the disturbing details of the case, revealing that the victim, who was approximately 11 or 12 years old at the time, recounted the incidents which took place inside Grainger’s home while he was babysitting her parents’ child. According to Lowe, the first incident involved Grainger taking the girl’s hand and forcing her to touch him sexually through his clothing. The court heard that on a subsequent occasion, Grainger pulled down his tracksuit bottoms and compelled the girl to touch him beneath his clothes, before engaging in sexual contact above her clothing.

The victim also described an incident roughly two weeks later, during which Grainger allegedly locked the door when she entered his house. She claimed that Grainger pushed her back onto the sofa, undressed himself by undoing his trousers, and then pulled down her trousers and underwear. However, her actions were interrupted by a knock at the door, preventing further abuse at that moment.

It was also revealed that approximately three months after these events, police contacted the girl to inquire if Grainger had done anything inappropriate. She initially denied any wrongdoing but later, many years afterward, felt able to disclose the abuse. A police interview with the victim was played in court, during which she expressed her feelings of fear and confusion, stating, “I didn’t know what to do; I was scared and didn’t pull my hand away or say anything. I knew it wasn’t normal or not right but I couldn’t say anything. If I forgot about it, it wouldn’t have been real and wouldn’t have happened.” She also described Grainger as being “over friendly” and having a chip van that he used to drive around the village.

During cross-examination, defense barrister Hannah Walker questioned the victim about the visibility of Grainger’s living room, suggesting that any misconduct would have been observable from outside. She also challenged the victim’s account of Grainger’s clothing, implying that it was uncharacteristic for him to wear tracksuit bottoms, and questioned her motives, suggesting she might have been seeking financial compensation. The victim responded that her primary motivation was to live a normal life free from recurring flashbacks.

Grainger denied the allegations during police interviews, claiming he did not know the girl and that she had never been in his house. Evidence from the victim’s mother and husband was also presented, alongside details of Grainger’s prior convictions for sexual offenses against underage girls, committed between November 2009 and November 2012. Despite his previous convictions and a subsequent jail sentence, Grainger continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Further complicating the case, the victim’s mother and a friend had sent her a Facebook message in 2014, linking her to a news article about Grainger’s earlier sentence. The prosecution highlighted that the victim had confided in her mother and later her husband about the abuse, indicating a pattern of disclosure over the years. Defense counsel argued that there was “more than an element of doubt” regarding Grainger’s guilt, citing inconsistencies such as Grainger’s usual attire as a “collar and tie man” and the fact that he did not own jeans or tracksuit bottoms at the time of the alleged offenses.

In court, Grainger’s wife and daughter provided testimonies, and Grainger himself gave evidence. The defense suggested that the victim appeared unemotional and composed during her court testimony, which they argued cast doubt on her credibility. Judge David Tremberg, who presided over the case, noted Grainger’s background, including his 24 years of service in the Navy, his work as a chef at Briggate Lodge, and his ownership of a chip van.

In sentencing, Judge Tremberg emphasized the emotional harm inflicted upon the victim, describing it as “serious emotional harm.” He pointed out that there was an abuse of trust, along with elements of grooming and isolation. Grainger was also convicted in July 2014 of nine child sex offenses, including sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual acts, and meeting a child following grooming, all committed between November 2009 and November 2012. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years.

Throughout the proceedings, Grainger maintained his innocence, claiming that the allegations were fabricated to make money. The court’s findings, however, confirmed his guilt in multiple counts of sexual misconduct, leading to his imprisonment and ongoing registration as a sex offender.