Brighton 2018-01-01

Kenneth McGrath 68

Brighton pub and club owner sexually abused a vulnerable 17-year-old girl on his yacht.

Profile Picture
Offender ID: O-8005

Locations

St Martins Place, Brighton, Brighton & Hove, BN2

Description

A Brighton pub and club owner has begun a three-year prison sentence for a sexual offence against a vulnerable 17-year-old girl from Brighton on his yacht in Majorca two years ago.

Kenneth McGrath, 61, a company director from St Martins Place, Brighton, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on November 30 after being convicted on November 10 of paying for the sexual services of a child, Sussex Police said.

He was acquitted of two sexual assault charges against the same girl.

Police stated he will be a registered sex offender for life and received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) lasting until further court order.

The SHPO bans him from providing massage services, taking images of under-18 girls without parental or guardian permission, and any employment involving contact with under-18 girls. He is also prohibited from possessing digital image-taking devices unless inspectable by police, and from contacting the victim.

In 2015, the girl was recommended by a mutual friend to McGrath, who sought a "girl friday" to work on his yacht in Majorca, hosting hen parties, police said.

However, officers reported no hen parties occurred; instead, McGrath exploited her isolation and vulnerability to coerce her into a sexual act and created a document purporting to show her willingness as part of her employment contract.

Detective Constable Melanie Wauchope said: “Ken McGrath exploited a balance of power between an employer and employee to control and manipulate a vulnerable young person into engaging in sexual activity. During the trial he tried to discredit her motives but clearly the jury did not believe him. We will always take seriously such reports and take action wherever possible.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said:

“McGrath has been shown to be a manipulative and calculating individual who exploited a vulnerable child for his own sexual gratification.

“It is flabbergasting that in a bid to cover his despicable actions he created a document suggesting his victim was a willing participant in her own abuse.

“We hope she has received all the support available to help her move forward with her life and that McGrath’s sentence gives her some form of closure, as well as protecting others.”

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