EDWIN GRIGGS FROM SANDWICH: SHOCKING SEX ABUSE AT LOCAL SWEET SHOP IN SANDWICH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Sandwich, Edwin Griggs, an 82-year-old former sweet shop owner, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for sexually abusing two young girls nearly four decades ago. The heinous acts took place at his establishment, The Chocolate Box, located on Strand Street, where he exploited his position of trust to prey on vulnerable children.

Griggs’s crimes date back to the early 1970s, a period during which he owned and operated the popular confectionery shop alongside his wife, Alice, who sadly passed away from cancer two years prior to his conviction. The victims, now adults, bravely came forward to recount their traumatic experiences, which had remained hidden for decades. One girl, who was only 11 at the time, described how she entered the shop with a friend and was falsely accused by Griggs of stealing an egg from a shelf. She was told to leave, but her friend was kept inside the shop under Griggs’s control.

Weeks later, the same girl returned to the shop, where Griggs lured her into a private room. According to her testimony, he sat in an armchair and instructed her to stand with her back to the chair. He then ordered her to lift her dress and underwear before fondling her buttocks with both hands. She was told to leave afterward, but Griggs secured her promise to return, and the abuse repeated on three separate occasions. During these encounters, Griggs made inappropriate sexual suggestions, which the girl refused, fearing that Griggs would inform her parents of her alleged thefts and cause her further embarrassment.

The second victim, who was also a young girl in the early 1970s, entered the shop with a friend. Griggs deliberately left the two girls alone, then accused the second girl of stealing, which she denied. He then ordered her to remove her jeans and underwear, taking advantage of her youth and trust. Prosecutors highlighted that Griggs exploited the opportunity to manipulate and threaten the girls, often using the pretext of shoplifting to justify his inappropriate actions. It was revealed that he would give the girls sweets to tempt them into returning, then threaten exposure to their parents or the police to silence them.

During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court in June, Griggs denied all charges of indecent assault, claiming that the incidents were a product of a different era when children often stole for mischief. However, the jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault. The court heard that the offenses occurred over a period of five months in 1974, involving no more than four separate incidents. Griggs’s defense argued that he had no access to children anymore and that his loss of good character was a significant punishment. His lawyer, Lucy Luttman, emphasized that Griggs had no prior convictions and lived a reclusive life following his wife’s death.

Judge James O’Mahony delivered a stern verdict, condemning Griggs for his calculated deception and exploitation of young girls. The judge described how Griggs had set a trap, using his age and authority to lure the victims into a back room where he engaged in sexual misconduct under the guise of discipline. The judge emphasized that the victims could not confide in their parents due to Griggs’s manipulations and threats, which compounded the severity of his crimes. He stated, “These children were like moths to a flame to your sweet shop. You planned what you did over a period of time and tricked and deceived them. You set out a trap for them and, under the guise of physical chastisement, you fondled their bottoms for your sexual gratification.”

Judge O’Mahony further condemned Griggs for denying his sexual motivation and dismissing the victims’ accounts as spiteful. In addition to the prison sentence, Griggs was ordered to pay £2,200 in court costs. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Sandwich, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding children from predators hiding behind seemingly innocent facades.