ROBERT GRANT FROM SWADLINCOTE JAILED FOR PREYING ON CHILDREN IN LONDON AND DERBYSHIRE

In a series of disturbing criminal acts spanning over eight years, Robert Grant, a 62-year-old man from Swadlincote, has been convicted and sentenced for his heinous offenses involving the sexual exploitation and molestation of young girls. His criminal activities included covert filming, physical assault, and targeted stalking at prominent shopping venues and toy stores across the country, with a particular focus on Hamleys in London and various locations in Derbyshire.

Grant’s disturbing pattern of behavior came to light after a vigilant shopper at Hamleys, located on Regent Street in London, witnessed him assaulting her nine-year-old granddaughter while she was engaged with remote control cars. The shopper’s quick reaction and subsequent confrontation led to Grant’s arrest. During the investigation, authorities discovered a USB device concealed as a ballpoint pen, which was linked to covert recordings made inside the store. Further searches of Grant’s hotel room at the Easy Hotel in West Drayton revealed spy pens and a laptop filled with videos from the toy store, accompanied by sickening commentary.

The footage on Grant’s devices included recordings of himself touching young girls, some as young as nine, and comments that revealed his disturbing intentions. The videos, labeled with titles such as ‘Hamleys 20 December’ and ‘Hamleys 21 December,’ depicted him stalking children, touching them inappropriately, and photographing up their skirts. Grant’s own face was sometimes visible in the footage, indicating he was actively involved in the acts he recorded. Prosecutors detailed that Grant admitted to touching a dozen or more girls over a span of three days during his visits to Hamleys, although he claimed these acts were not for sexual gratification but found them pleasurable nonetheless.

His criminal record includes convictions dating back to 1983 for indecent assault and the production of indecent images. His latest offenses, committed at various locations including the Birmingham NEC, West Quay shopping center in Southampton, Donington Market, and at car boot sales, involved incidents where he targeted children aged between nine and 14. Grant’s predatory behavior was premeditated, with evidence suggesting he brought covert recording devices to capture his exploits for later gratification.

At Southwark Crown Court, Judge Anthony Leonard sentenced Grant to a total of 18 months in prison for the recent offenses, with the sentences running concurrently. The judge expressed concern over Grant’s long-standing obsession with young girls and his efforts to avoid detection, noting that many of his offenses occurred in public settings where he believed he could evade capture. He also criticized the lack of proper sexual offenses courses during his incarceration, which he believed was a missed opportunity for rehabilitation.

Grant’s previous convictions and the nature of his recent crimes highlight a deeply disturbing pattern of sexual predation. His actions have caused significant distress to his victims and their families, and his sentencing underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats such offenses. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order will remain in place until 2035, aiming to prevent further harm from the convicted offender.

In a related case from June 2015, Grant, then aged 61, was also jailed for two years after he was caught stalking and assaulting children at Hamleys just days before Christmas. The incident involved a nine-year-old girl, whose grandmother confronted Grant after noticing his inappropriate behavior. Police found recording devices and a laptop in his possession, further evidence of his premeditated approach to exploiting children. Grant admitted to targeting children at the store and making indecent images, with authorities emphasizing the calculated nature of his offenses and his intent to record and revisit his crimes for sexual gratification. His prior convictions and the evidence collected during these investigations paint a troubling picture of a man with a long history of sexual offenses against minors, now finally brought to justice.