Jailed paedophile admits more sex crimes

A convicted child sex offender is set to spend more time in jail after 13 more victims emerged following coverage of his case.

Carson Grimes, 69, who lived in Dumfries Street, Luton, has admitted 24 further offences including rape and indecent assault.

In 2021, Grimes was jailed for a minimum of 22 years after being convicted of 36 serious sexual offences relating to nine victims.

Detectives say media reporting, including an episode of the Channel 4 series 24 Hours in Police Custody, led to more people making allegations.

Det Insp Clare Gilbert, from Bedfordshire Police, said: "Grimes was a horrific predator, who targeted young and vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification.

"He had an elevated sense of self-worth where he believed he could prey on vulnerable children and get away with it."

His trial in 2021 heard how Grimes abused children in the 1980s when he lived in London, and his behaviour escalated when he moved to Bedfordshire and continued until about 2002.

Jurors found him guilty of 19 counts of rape, 11 of indecent assault and six of indecency with a child.

Carson Grimes is due to be sentenced at Luton Crown Court in May

Grimes pleaded guilty to the 24 new charges at Luton Crown Court on Thursday.

The victims - some of whom police said were boys at the time - accused him of sexually abusing them between 1987 and 2001.

Police referred to Grimes - also known as Carson Phillips - as one of "Bedfordshire's most prolific sex offenders" and said one of his victims described his home as a "horror house".

He is due to be sentenced on 23 May.

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