Ex-paramedic convicted of grooming a child in Welwyn Garden City
Stuart Gray, 60, of Beehive Lane, convinced his victims they were both 'angels' on earth and his abuse was 'saving her'
A former paramedic has been found guilty of raping a young girl in Welwyn Garden City.
Stuart Gray, aged 60, previously of Beehive Lane, was convicted following a trial at St Albans Crown Court.
The court heard how the offences – which were not committed while he was on duty as a paramedic – related to one victim over a ten-year period, between 2010 and 2020.
Gray groomed the vulnerable teenager and convinced her that he and she were both ‘angels’ on earth, making her believe the grotesque abuse was his way of ‘saving her’.
He also filmed and photographed her committing sexual acts without her consent, and indecent images and videos were found on his computer following his arrest.
In 2021 the victim – now aged in her 20s – reported Gray to police, before he was arrested and consequently suspended from duty. He has also since been removed from the paramedics’ professional register.
Gray had previously pleaded guilty to charges relating to sexual activity with a child, making indecent photographs of a child and voyeurism.
Following his conviction, he was remanded in custody and his sentencing has been scheduled for Friday 1 September.
Detective Constable Sonja Townsend, from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Crime Unit, said: “I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, as I can’t imagine how hard it was for her to report Gray and to have to recall the chronic abuse she suffered at his hands.
“Gray was 50 when the abuse began, and the victim was just a child. Gray’s behaviour is a gross abuse of trust, and his actions will live with the victim for the rest of her life. I only hope seeing Gray convicted helps bring closure to this chapter of her life so she can move forward. We now await sentencing in September.”