TERENCE GRIGG, THE COTTINGHAM AND NORTON PAEDOPHILE, CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX ABUSE IN YORKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Cottingham and Norton in North Yorkshire, the Reverend Canon Terence Grigg, aged 84, has been found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against vulnerable boys and young men over a span of more than a decade. The conviction was handed down after a rigorous three-week trial at Hull Crown Court, where jurors listened to detailed testimonies and evidence that painted a disturbing picture of abuse by a man who was once a respected clergyman.

Grigg, who served as a minister at St. Mary’s Church in Cottingham, faced a total of 15 charges, including indecent assault and two counts of serious sexual assault. The court, however, convicted him on 14 of these charges, rejecting his denial of the allegations. Throughout the proceedings, the jury was informed that Grigg had deliberately targeted boys and young men who were described as vulnerable in some way, exploiting their trust and innocence for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard that Grigg’s misconduct extended to trips outside of Yorkshire, including a visit to London, where he stayed in a hotel room with one of his victims. During this trip, he took the young boy to a gay bar, an incident that Grigg claimed he did not recognize as such at the time. The evidence revealed that some of the assaults occurred when the victims were as young as 10 years old, highlighting the severity and long-term impact of his actions.

One of the victims, who kept a coded diary, documented the abuse from the age of 14, providing crucial evidence for the prosecution. The details of these crimes, spanning from 1983 to 1996, have deeply affected the local communities of Cottingham and Norton, where Grigg was known as a religious figure and community leader.

As the case concludes, Grigg is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. The verdict underscores the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals and serves as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse within trusted institutions. The communities await justice and hope that this case will bring some measure of closure to the victims and their families.