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Search forPaedophile says "some boys ask for it"
Friday, August 22, 2008, 07:00
By Aline Nassif
A convicted paedophile who downloaded hundreds of child porn images has given a frightening insight into his twisted mind.
Former youth worker Jeff Groves was caught after he took his laptop to PC World to be repaired.
Shocked staff at the Purley Way store found more than 70,000 pornographic adult images and 359 involving children.
This week at Croydon Crown Court, the 64-year-old pervert escaped jail after being given a 10-month sentence suspended for two years.
So now he is back at his home in Tavistock Road, West Croydon – just one street away from St Mary's Junior School.
It was from there that he gave a startling interview to the Advertiser this week which gave a rare insight into the macabre world of a paedophile.
Groves calmly told our reporter how he:
*Worked at a youth club with boys as young as eight for 17 years
*Viewed up to 8,000 pornographic images every night
*Empathises with child molesters because some kids "ask for it"
*Has seen videos showing young boys being tied up and raped
*Could easily get his hands on young boys but has "no desire to touch"
*Has never had a sexual relationship in his life
Groves, who has been living alone since his mother died two years ago, cuts a sad figure.
Speaking from his couch, he said: "When my solicitor told me I'd be facing prison I said, well at least that means I won't have to do my cooking or ironing.
"I hold my hands up, I'm guilty, I did it. I didn't think I was doing anything especially bad – but I was stupid to get caught."
That is certainly true, considering Groves is a retired computer programmer.
"My computer needed new software as I wasn't able to open up any of the pictures," he said, explaining why he had taken the laptop to PC World last September.
"I didn't think they'd been saved, but I was careless."
Despite coming so close to being jailed he shows little remorse.
He said: "I wasn't aware any of the boys were under 18. These days, kids that age and above can look a lot younger.
"All I had to do is type in 'boy porn' and I got everything for free. It's so easy, even kids can access the stuff.
"Every night, I'd sit down for an hour-and-a-half and keep clicking on the sites.
"It was like voyeurism to me, which I like. I did occasionally see much more graphic stuff, which I didn't like at all because I could never do that to another person.
"Typically, the videos show a fat old man instructing a young boy to take his clothes off and perform acts.
"I've seen really nasty images, like young boys being tied up and raped. But on the internet, you can't help what you see."
Groves moved to Croydon last December – before then he was living in Wallington.
It was during his time in Wallington, in his 20s and 30s, that he worked in a youth club.
He said: "I was often left alone with the boys, but I never touched them.
"But from experience I know youngsters sometimes encourage you, and people who take advantage aren't totally to blame.
"And I was very good at controlling them, so I can understand how it's done."
Bizarrely, Groves has never been in a relationship – and resents the suggestion.
"I don't want to be with anyone," he said.
"I hate the way the world is geared towards couples, whether you're booking a holiday or having a meal – they get all the good deals.
"But I've always wanted to be on my own.
"Even as a kid my parents and younger brother went on holidays without me. I had no friends at school."
When sentenced on Monday he was also told to sign onto the sex offender's register and was banned from using the internet.
But despite having pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children he seems reluctant to accept he is to blame for his crime.
He said: "I must have something wrong in my head.
"But America is to blame. They put out so much illegal porn on the web for everyone to see, because it generates good money for them.
"They are money grabbers of the worst kind and they need to be stopped."
PERVERT: Jeff Groves, pictured at his West Croydon home
Pic no: CCRPM190808F04 by Paul Martyniuk
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