Reverend Canon Terrence Grigg is a former minister from St. Mary’s Church in Cottingham, East Yorkshire. He’s currently on trial after being accused of molesting five boys and young men between 1983 and 1996.
During his trial at the Full Crown Court this week, Grigg was asked about the time he traveled to London with a young man, where the two shared a hotel room and hung out at a gay bar.
The ex-clergyman estimated that the young man was probably 19 or 20 years old. He also insisted that they didn’t engage in any physical contact. In fact, they slept in separate beds. Oh, and he never intended to take him to that gay bar. It was an accident.
Grigg testified that he brought the young man on a trip to London because he felt he was “a bit prim” and needed to experience the world.
As for the gay bar, he said he only chose it because it appeared livelier than the other “old man’s pub” they had passed by. He didn’t even realize it was an all-male bar until after they drank half a pint of beer.
The BBC reports:
During the trial, prosecutors said the alleged victims were “all vulnerable in some way” and Mr Grigg had used “that vulnerability for his own sexual gratification”.
Some of the alleged assaults, which took place in a variety of locations, were carried out when one of the victims was 10 years old, the jury heard.
Another victim kept a coded diary that recorded the alleged abuse he suffered from the age of 14, the prosecution claimed.
84-year-old Grigg has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and two serious sexual assaults.
Related: Priest busted for filming himself having gay sex on church altar goes into hiding
Brethmas
When I was 12 (60 years ago), a greedy priest used to do blowjobs to all altar boys to “check our good health”. (He said he could verify by the taste..)
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TheBigOne
I think you’re due for another check-up.
I’d be more than happy to do it 🙂
billjones
How is 19 or 20 “underage”?
Heywood Jablowme
The editor who wrote the headline is just being “USA-centric,” maybe without even realizing it.
Yes, it’s legal for a 19 year old to drink alcohol in a bar in England. (Even in Canada, believe it or not.) Queerty writers really need to get out more! Except of course for the extremely well-traveled Jeremy Helligar. 🙂
jeremy gavins
For you information and anyone else on this discussion. Sex between men in the UK was illegal until 1967, when the Sexual Offences Act came into force for those over 21. In 1994 that age was lowered to 18. So if these events occurred before 1994 then 19 or 20 year-olds were under age.
Vince
That was the Priests estimation. However the victims are saying 14.
Brian
The *priest* is saying that the person was not too young. The allegation is that he was younger than what the priest claims.
Poor reading comprehension, or do you actually believe this creep?
James
Homophobia. Ten is a bit young, but 19 or 20……. please. I think in France boys are taken to prostitutes at the age of 13 to find out the facts of life. The real issue is straight “boys” are going to get uptight about gay sex. Did you even notice all the catholic paedophilia cases were brought by men who were straight and not gay men.
stub27
Really as a European, what do you think we are like. It was wrong no matter what age as he used his position of power
dwes09
There are any number of gay men who have brought charges against priests. The issue here is the abuse of power and position to coerce others, regardless of the presumed consent of the young person involved.
Though the age of consent is important, there can still be sexual harassment against people well above that age where there is a disparity of power and authority.
DCguy
It’s always cute when somebody creates a false reality as s defense.
1. 1o is a “bit” young. A BIT?!
2. You said “I THINK in France boys are taken to prostitutes at the age of 13”.
Please post any link providing your false distraction with that. Total lie.
stub27
It also doesn’t matter if they where straight or gay as he used his position
roth99
That is the issue. Even if the man happened to be30 a priest takes a vow of chastity and is held to much higher standards than the general public.
garybw
Oops I accidentally took a 19 yo to a motel and my accidental erection accidentally slide into his mouth and then we accidentally took off all of our clothes and then, somehow my accident erection went into his ass over and over again.
For 1000’s of years this accident has repeatedly occurred and god never helped out
TomG
What happened 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago is ancient history. That goes for these women accusing men of “inappropriate behavior”. If it were that bad, then you would have reported it IMMEDIATELY, NO EXCUSES !
Sanjo
You’re obviously speaking from opinion rather than any knowledge of what happens in the real world.
Go do some volunteer work with abuse victims and then get back to me.
jcoberkrom
The young man was of age!!! What is the problem???
jeremy gavins
For your information and anyone else on this discussion. Sex between men in the UK was illegal until 1967, when the Sexual Offences Act came into force for those over 21. In 1994 that age was lowered to 18. So if these events occurred before 1994 then 19 or 20 year-olds were under age.
surfpenis
I “accidentally” got jerked off by my Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher when I was in 7th grade and he was about 40 I guess. I actually didn’t object at all. But still …. yeah ….
Aires the Ram
Priests should never abuse their position and power like this, BUT, if the statute of limitations have expired (in the US either 7 or 10 years), then I do not believe there CAN be a case against the accused individual. I in no way condone this kind of behavior, but all of us know it’s been going on for centuries. But if you come forward and say that someone sexually abused you in 1975, then you should be ignored, because you have no proof. People are still innocent, until proven guilty. How is it that we’ve arrived where we are now, where a woman, or anybody, can accuse a man of this kind of thing many many years ago, and the guy loses everything, when the case against them is not even proven, and has not even gone to court??? It’s wrong.
Brian
It’s not enough for this ancient man to lose his job. Law enforcement should be going after all the men who covered it up. This isn’t one crime. It’s a conspiracy.
tennisteacher2
And I “ACCIDENTLY FORGOT” to wear UNDERWEAR once during Halloween dressed as a NUN…NOTHING HAPPENED….