An amateur dramatics director turned to his wife and said “I’ve done something very wrong” when police showed up at his house after they traced an image upload of child abuse to his phone.
Jerry Grumitt, 63, of Cwrt y Coed, Blackwood, was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court for two-and-half years for the possession of indecent images of children.
The paedophile admitted three charges under the Protection of Children Act of possessing the images, stored on his mobile phone, and another offence of distributing an image.
The graphic images included children aged between four and 12-years-old being abused.
Of the most serious Category A, Grumitt had 49 images including one video. He also had 82 Category B images, and 49 Category C images, which also included two videos.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, May 21, was told how Grumitt was traced through his phone’s IP address by the National Crime Agency when he uploaded a Category A image of abuse in June 2018.
A search warrant was executed at his home on April 24 this year.
Peter Donnison, prosecuting, said Grumitt invited officers into his house when they showed up and said “I’ve been expecting you”. He then turned to his wife and said “I’ve done something very wrong”.
During his initial police interview, Grumitt, who had been a director with amateur dramatics group Blackwood Little Theatre, said no comment to questions but in later interviews admitted the offences. He later admitted the charges at magistrates’ court.
Forensic examination of his phone revealed the full extent of the number of images in addition to apps allowing him to talk to others interested in similar images of abuse.
Defending, Kevin Seal said Grumitt had shown remorse for his actions and that had suffered sexual abuse as a child.
He said: “It is always a tragedy when someone with no previous convictions and who is highly thought of a respected by those who know him is in court for punishment for these very serious offences.”
The court was told how Grumitt withdrew a bail application earlier in the proceedings and has already spent six weeks in custody because he recognised the seriousness of his offences.
Mr Seal said reference letters from those who know Grumitt spoke of how highly he is thought of and that the offences were “out of character”. Grumitt also wrote to the judge expressing his remorse and had already sought professional help. A probation report also said Grumitt was of low risk of reoffending.
Sentencing Grumitt, Judges Petts said the content of the images and the ages of the children featured were an aggravating factor and that the case’s seriousness warranted an immediate custodial sentence.
For distributing a single Category A image, Grumitt was jailed for two-and-half years, for possession of the Category A, B, and C, images he was sentenced to 12 months, eight months and two months respectively. The sentences will run at the same time.
The judge said Grumitt will serve half the sentence in prison and the remainder on licence. An order was also made to destroy his mobile phone.