Former Sea Cadets volunteer who sexually abused children.

Phillip Grove Jailed for 22 Years for Sexual Offences Against Children

Phillip Grove, aged 70 from Sheffield, was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, February 23rd. Grove, who was living in Taunton at the time of the offences, was found guilty of 15 charges related to non-recent sexual offences, including rape.

During a trial at the same court, held at North Somerset Courthouse, a jury found Grove guilty of two counts of rape, ten counts of indecency with a child, and three counts of indecent assault.

The court heard how, in the 1990s, while serving as Chief Petty Officer in a volunteer position at a Sea Cadet group, Grove raped one victim, sexually assaulted another, and acted indecently in front of two other victims. These incidents occurred over a six-year period.

In September 2020, one of the victims reported the abuse to the police, leading to an investigation into Grove's actions. On Friday, Grove was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with one year on extended licence. The judge also imposed a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered Grove to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was further barred from working with children.