A convicted murderer and serial sexual offender, Allan Grimson, is set to remain in prison for the foreseeable future, following a determined campaign for justice by Gibraltar-based journalist Ros Astengo. Grimson, who was nearing release after serving more than two decades for two murders, was found guilty on Monday of 13 new sexual offences, prompting a judge to describe him as an “extremely dangerous man”.
Astengo, whose usual focus is politics and social issues, embarked on the investigation with significant reservations, concerned about re-traumatising survivors and the personal risk involved. However, the potential for Grimson to reoffend upon release ultimately drove her decision. Her diligent work brought four men forward who had been sexually assaulted by Grimson in the 1990s, the same period as his murder convictions.
Grimson, a former Royal Navy petty officer, was originally jailed for life in 2001 for the sexual abuse and murder of 18-year-old Nicholas Wright and 20-year-old Sion Jenkins in Portsmouth. The sentencing judge at the time characterised him as a “serial killer in nature if not by number”. During his initial police interviews, Grimson had admitted to sexual offences against four other men – three young sailors and a teenage boy – but these allegations were not pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service, as he was already facing a lengthy prison term for the murders.
While incarcerated, Grimson maintained good behaviour, hoping for release after serving his minimum 22-year term. In November 2020, the Parole Board even recommended his transfer to an open prison, a step towards eventual freedom. It was around this time that Astengo, while covering the search for another missing sailor, Simon Parkes, in Gibraltar, became aware of Grimson's previous admissions that had gone unaddressed. Deeply moved by the plight of Parkes's elderly parents, she began researching Grimson's past, leading to her discovery of these uncharged allegations.
Astengo expressed her astonishment that no action had been taken on these admissions and her alarm at Grimson's impending release. “I knew what he had done to those boys,” she stated, questioning how he could be considered fully rehabilitated. Her efforts involved tracking down one of the four men, travelling to the UK to speak with him, and ultimately encouraging him and three others to file fresh complaints, leading to the recent convictions at Winchester Crown Court. Judge Dugdale has requested reports to assess Grimson's current risk level and victim personal statements ahead of his sentencing in November 2026.