GRENVILLE BLOWER: NORFOLK SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS
Dereham child sex offender Grenville Blower has died in prison at the age of 66, while serving a 14-year sentence for a series of historic and recent sexual offences against young girls.His death occurred on April 26 at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire and is currently under review by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, with an inquest expected to be scheduled at Cambridge Coroners’ Court.
Blower, who resided on Lexham Road in Litcham near Dereham, was convicted in 2023 after a trial at Norwich Crown Court of abusing three girls over a span that stretched from the 1970s through the 1990s and into recent years, specifically between 2017 and 2021.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison plus an additional five years on licence, with the judge, Katharine Moore, describing him as “a dangerous individual with a pattern of persistent and repeated behaviour,” and stating, “Plainly you are sexually attracted to pre-pubescent and young pubescent girls.” During the trial, it was revealed that Blower assaulted his first victim on multiple occasions, some when she was under 13 and he was 15, and others when he was over 18.
The second victim was also subjected to repeated abuse in the 1990s, when she was just 14 years old.
The third victim, aged between six and 11 at the time, was abused by Blower while he was in his 60s.
Blower had consistently denied the allegations, but the court found the evidence compelling enough to convict him on ten counts of indecent assault.
In a heartfelt statement, one of the victims described her ongoing trauma, explaining she had tried to "bury so, so deep" what he had done because she "didn't think anyone would believe me," but she had been left in "utter turmoil" due to the "monster’s" actions.
She emphasised that the "horrific events" she endured as part of this "devastating ordeal" would stay with her forever.
Another victim shared her struggle to come to terms with her trauma, stating she had tried to suppress her memories because she believed “no one would believe me,” and described her life as being in “utter turmoil” due to Blower’s crimes.
Judge Moore also noted that a probation report characterised Blower as “high risk” and in denial about his offending.
She highlighted that his offending began at age 15 in the 1970s and that from the age of 18 onwards, his culpability was deemed “highly culpable.” The court also imposed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order, reflecting ongoing concerns about his potential for reoffending, as his “sexual interest in young girls remains undimmed.” Blower’s death marks the end of a long and disturbing chapter.
His passing is currently under investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, and an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death is expected to be scheduled at Cambridge Coroners’ Court.
