Northampton sex offender handed prison sentence for possessing child abuse images

A 49-year-old registered sex offender has been sent to prison for two years and four months after he was found to be in possession of hundreds of indecent images of children.

Steven Grosvenor, 49, previously of Northampton, refused police officers entry to his home on two occasions, forcing them to obtain a warrant to enter his address at the beginning of August.

Once inside, he handed over one mobile phone for inspection but the search history had been deleted – a breach of his conditions.

This caused further suspicion among officers and PD Rosie – the Force’s Digital Media dog - was deployed to search Grosvenor’s property.

She sniffed out a number of devices Grosvenor had attempted to conceal in a safe hidden inside a wardrobe including USB sticks and a laptop. Hundreds of indecent images of children were found on them all.

Lead Investigator - PC Dani Wilton from Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO Team, said: “Steven Grosvenor’s flagrant failure to comply with the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order was staggering and I am pleased that he has been handed a custodial sentence as a result.

“Registered sex offenders like Grosvenor have to abide by very strict conditions including allowing officers to make regular visits to their homes, not deleting their search history and making all their devices available to us for inspection with no notice.

“When they breach these conditions we take a zero-tolerance approach and they will be charged with offences.

“Grosvenor also attempted to conceal devices from us however PD Rosie was able to sniff them out and they were quickly examined by our dedicated and highly skilled High Tech Crime Unit.

“This was a brilliant result for the MOSOVO Team with a high risk sex offender now taken off the streets. 

“Our message to registered sex offenders is clear – we have the assets, resources and skills to uncover any attempts you make to conceal offences.

“We would also advise you to open the door to our teams the first time we knock. Or we will open it for you.”