A jury at Winchester crown court found Allan Grimson guilty of 13 sexual offences on Monday, potentially extending his imprisonment beyond the 22-year sentence he received in 2001 for murdering two young men. The conviction resulted from the investigative work of Gibraltar-based journalist Ros Astengo, who inspired four men to come forward with reports of sexual assaults committed by Grimson in the 1990s.
Background of a Serial Offender
Grimson, a former Royal Navy petty officer, was jailed for life in 2001 for sexually abusing and murdering Nicholas Wright, 18, and Sion Jenkins, 20, in Portsmouth. Both victims had served in the navy. The sentencing judge described him as a “serial killer in nature if not by number.” Grimson was told he would serve at least 22 years in prison. As his release neared, the Parole Board recommended in November 2020 that he be moved to an open prison to prepare for freedom.
During his original police interviews, Grimson admitted to sexual offences or contact with four other individuals—three young sailors and a teenage boy—and said he had thought of killing two of them. However, the Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue these allegations at the time because Grimson was already facing a long jail term for the murders.
Journalist's Investigation
Ros Astengo, who covers politics and social issues in Gibraltar, began investigating Grimson while looking into the disappearance of Simon Parkes, a sailor who vanished in Gibraltar in 1986. Grimson was in the territory at the time and has long been a suspect, though he denies involvement. Astengo was deeply moved by Parkes's elderly parents, Margaret and David, and promised to write a book about their son's case.
During her research, Astengo discovered that Grimson had admitted to offences against four boys and young men but faced no charges. “I was astonished that he was never charged over them,” she said. Concerned about his potential release, she thought, “How could he be fully rehabilitated? I was worried he would go back into the community thinking he’s gotten away with it.”
Astengo tracked down one of the four men and traveled to the UK to speak with him. She said, “I found a very angry man who was still hurt, angry and upset that he had never seen justice.” She advised him to file a fresh complaint with police. When no action was initially taken, she contacted the child sexual abuse review panel, which agreed to re-examine the case. Detectives interviewed the man and located the three other victims, leading to charges in February 2025.
Trial and Verdict
During the month-long trial, Grimson's legal team argued that it was unfair to charge him with offences not pursued a quarter-century ago, suggesting the prosecution was a tactic to keep him in prison and “stymie” his parole. They also criticized Astengo, implying she was motivated by potential profits from her upcoming book. John Price KC, prosecuting, urged the jury to ignore “conspiracy theories” about Astengo's involvement, stating that good was achieved by energetic journalists.
The jury found Grimson guilty of 13 sexual offences. Judge Dugdale described him as an extremely dangerous man in the 1990s and requested reports to assess whether he still poses a serious risk. He also asked for victim personal statements and thanked the jury for hearing a “very unusual case.” Sentencing is scheduled for November.
Impact and Reflection
Astengo expressed gratitude for the victims' courage: “The men were incredibly brave to come to court, bring all this back into their lives.” She emphasized that her motivation was public safety, not profit: “Every time she travelled to the UK she has had to pay her own way, take leave – and could make very little, if anything, from her book. For me, it was about justice and to prevent a serial offender from being released.”
The case highlights changes in how the justice system handles sexual crimes. In the late 1990s, serious sexual allegations were often not pursued if a defendant faced a long sentence for more serious crimes; now it is considered the state's duty to do so. The trial also underscored the historical context of gay people not being allowed to serve openly in the armed forces until the turn of the century, which made some victims reluctant to report assaults for fear of dismissal.
