MICHAEL GROSVENOR SHIRLEY SOLIHULL PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL OFFENSES

In November 2002, Michael Grosvenor, a man with a troubling history linked to Shirley and Solihull, was sentenced to prison for serious sexual offenses and possession of indecent images involving minors. The court heard that Grosvenor, aged 31 and residing on Sansome Road in Shirley, had engaged in disturbing criminal behavior that spanned several years.

Grosvenor was convicted of possessing a staggering 10,000 indecent images of children, along with one charge of creating an indecent image. He pleaded guilty to these charges at Warwick Crown Court, leading to a sentence of two years imprisonment. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade, a measure designed to monitor his activities and prevent further offenses.

The judge, Richard Cole, also imposed a three-year extension to Grosvenor’s license period, meaning that after his release from prison, he would remain under supervision and could be recalled to jail if his behavior raised concerns. During the sentencing, Judge Cole emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that the photographs Grosvenor possessed were "quite revolting" and depicted acts of a "very serious nature" committed against children.

Prosecutor Andrew Lockhart recounted that in 1999, Grosvenor was employed as a school bus driver. During this period, he befriended a 15-year-old girl and subsequently encouraged her to visit his home. It was at his residence that Grosvenor engaged in sexual activity with her on multiple occasions. Despite being placed on a three-year probation period following a guilty plea to three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, Grosvenor continued to have sexual relations with the girl during this time.

Furthermore, while on probation, Grosvenor was involved in the illegal downloading of child pornography. The police’s paedophile unit acted on intelligence indicating that Grosvenor had accessed and paid for child pornographic images online using his credit card. A raid on his flat uncovered a horrifying collection of approximately 10,000 indecent images, highlighting the extent of his criminal activities.

Defense lawyer Andrew Tucker acknowledged Grosvenor’s conduct as "disgraceful and highly unattractive," adding that controlling such urges is extremely difficult for individuals in his position. The court’s verdict reflects the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing threat posed by his actions, underscoring the importance of stringent sentencing and supervision to protect the community.