A “DANGEROUS sexual predator” is finally behind bars today - more than a decade after indecently assaulting a man.
John Arthur Grainger evaded justice for 11 years but was eventually linked to his crime through DNA evidence.
The 58-year-old, from Middlesbrough,
had posed as a taxi driver to pick up a man before indecently assaulting him in 2000.
A decade later, following another incident, a DNA sample taken from him matched that from the previous incident.
Yesterday, at Teesside Crown Court, Grainger, of Kirkgate Road, was jailed for four years.
His victim, who says his life has been “ruined” by the ordeal, watched from the public gallery and showed little emotion as the sentence was passed.
Prosecutor Rupert Doswell told the court that Grainger had picked up his victim, who had consumed a “considerable amount of drink” in Middlesbrough in June 2000.
“The driver seemed pleasant and the two of them were chatting,” Mr Doswell said.
“The driver asked if he could pop into his mother’s house to pick something up.”
The victim was persuaded to go into the house for a drink and then offered a “glass of green liquid”.
“He said he didn’t want to drink it but the man became angry,” Mr Doswell added.
“He recalls drinking from the glass but then must have passed out.”
The victim remembered waking up for “20 or 30 seconds” and finding the man on top of him, whispering “everything is going to be all right”.
His next recollection was being woken by a cyclist after he had been dumped in a bush.
DNA was later found on the man’s body but failed to match any on police records.
A decade later, in October last year, Grainger picked up another man, who had been out drinking.
The man later found himself in the back of a car with Grainger standing over him and feared he had been raped.
CCTV footage was viewed and, when arrested, Grainger said that he had seen the drunken man who had asked for a lift home.
No further action was taken but a DNA sample taken proved significant and matched that found a decade previously.
The court heard that Grainger, who had once worked for the Evening Gazette, had an earlier conviction for kidnap dating back to 1988.
Mitigating, Andrew Mark said Grainger was sorry for his crime and deserved credit for his early guilty plea.
“He thinks what he has done is catastrophic, disgraceful, and outrageous,” Mr Mark said.
Judge Peter Armstrong described Grainger as a “dangerous sexual predator”.
He jailed him for four years and imposed an extended licence period of eight years after his release. A sexual offences prevention order was also made.
Grainger pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a male person. A charge of kidnap was left to lie on file.
Detective Constable Kester Haith, of Middlesbrough CID, said after the sentencing: “No matter how much time passes, police will always strive to solve outstanding crimes, and in this instance we have been able to do this through advances in DNA.
“I am pleased that after more than 11 years Grainger has been brought to justice and hope that this case gives any other victims the confidence to come forward.”
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -29721882/
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