JAMES GRANATO FROM COVINGHAM FACES JAIL FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS IN SWINDON

In October 2016, a man named James Granato, aged 28, was remanded into custody following a conviction for multiple serious sexual offenses involving young girls in the Swindon area. Granato, who resides in Wrenswood, Covingham, has a troubling criminal history, including previous imprisonment for attempted rape. His latest convictions stem from a trial held at Swindon Crown Court, where he was found guilty of abusing two young girls over a span of more than a decade.

The first case involved a nine-year-old girl whom Granato molested between 2003 and 2005. The court heard that during this period, he engaged in indecent acts with the girl, which she later disclosed to her mother. Despite her revelations, her family was initially told that her accusations were unfounded, as Granato’s mother, a social worker, accused the girl of fabricating stories. It was only after a newspaper report highlighting similar allegations that police were prompted to investigate further, leading to Granato’s arrest and subsequent conviction.

The second incident involved a 12-year-old girl who was visiting Granato’s home in Covingham in November 2014. The girl, who was friends with Granato’s wife’s family, recounted that Granato had told her he needed a leg massage and offered to pay her, as he had done previously. However, during this visit, he subjected her to sexual assault. The girl reported that he stopped when his wife emerged from the bathroom but then continued his abuse once she left. Granato was convicted of two counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault of a child, and two counts of inciting or causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Throughout the trial, Granato maintained his innocence, claiming that both girls, one of whom is now an adult woman, were lying due to his past convictions. Nevertheless, the jury, composed of six men and six women, rejected his defense and found him guilty of six out of the eight charges brought against him. The court noted that his offending behavior extended over a period of six months leading up to May 2004, during which he indecently touched the nine-year-old girl.

Judge Sir John Royce, presiding over the case, indicated that Granato would face a custodial sentence, stating, “A custodial sentence is inevitable.” He also ordered that Granato be remanded in custody until sentencing, which is scheduled for November 4. The judge advised Granato to cooperate with the preparation of a presentence report, emphasizing that it was in his best interest. Additionally, Granato will be required to register as a sex offender, a requirement he already fulfills for life due to his previous conviction for attempted rape and related offenses.

In his prior incident, Granato had chased a 20-year-old woman, a friend he met in the middle of the night, and attempted to force himself on her in an alleyway. This history of predatory behavior underscores the severity of his latest convictions and the ongoing threat he poses to the community in Covingham and the wider Swindon area.