Police searched for human bones outside a ‘horror house’ where one of Britain’s worst serial paedophiles groomed and abused children, it can be revealed today.
Carson Grimes, 69, was jailed for at least 22 years in October 2021 for a campaign of abuse which saw him attack nine young people at his home in Luton, Bedfordshire.
He preyed upon vulnerable young people by pretending to be a friend and inviting them to his house, before he plied them with drink and drugs then abused them.
Grimes would offer his victims alcohol and cannabis before expecting them to perform sexual acts in return, as well as sexually assaulting them while they slept.
An episode of Channel 4 documentary 24 Hours in Police Custody was broadcast at the time of Grimes’s first sentencing hearing which followed a seven-year probe.
Several new victims of Grimes then came forward over the next few months, which revealed the scale and extent of his criminality was far greater than feared.
The paedophile was given another life sentence at Luton Crown Court in June 2025 after pleading guilty to 24 new charges in relation to 13 victims dating back to 1987.
Now, a new episode has revealed Grimes’s former neighbour rang 999 to say she had dug up large bones in her garden, next to the house where he drugged victims.
Carson Grimes is serving at least 22 years and nine months in jail after his second sentencing
Detective Inspector Clare Gilbert, Sergeant Jason Keir and DS Billie Scholten arrive at Grimes’s old home in Luton, Bedfordshire, amid concerns human bones could have been buried there
A new episode of 24 Hours In Police Custody revealed Grimes’s former neighbour rang 999 to say she had dug up large bones in her garden, next to the house where he drugged victims
The Bedfordshire Police team look at paving slabs and rubble on and underneath the grass
A clip shared exclusively with the Daily Mail today shows Detective Inspector Clare Gilbert, Sergeant Jason Keir and Detective Sergeant Billie Scholten visiting the scene.
They look at paving slabs and rubble both on and underneath the grass as DI Gilbert says: ‘That rubble could also be some kind of burial site. If I was to bury a human corpse I think that’s what I would do.
‘I wouldn’t just put soil on the top, I think I would put bricks and rubble because you don’t want it to come to the surface do you? I mean that looks like a paving slab, doesn’t it? That makes me think what are they trying to hide?’
When her colleague asks ‘what are we going to do’, DI Gilbert replies: ‘We are going to dig it, that’s the plan.’
The team later carry out the dig but are unable to find any bones – so they decide to close that element of the case.
The episode on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight has given the inside story of the fresh investigation by Bedfordshire Police’s rape and serious sexual offences team into Grimes.
Some of the victims had suffered their abuse up to 30 years ago and remained silent, but detectives looked at whether Grimes’ abusive behaviour was still happening.
They discovered he was still in touch with some victims and was even feared to be manipulating them from prison to persuade them not to testify against him.
Grimes, who previously lived on Dumfries Street, is now serving at least 22 years and nine months in jail before he can be considered for parole.
In the documentary, DI Gilbert says: ‘Over the years it was a tried and tested MO. He had been drugging these boys. How had he not caused one serious harm?
‘He is a classic Jimmy Savile. Everyone loved him but he was abusing kids under everyone’s nose. No one would have suspected it. I imagine that there are hundreds of victims.’
Former BBC presenter Savile was outed after his death in 2011 as one of Britain’s most prolific child sex attackers as he exploited his status to prey on hundreds of people.
Victim Patrick is filmed for the documentary in a car on his way to the sentencing of Grimes
Grimes in a police interview during a 24 Hours in Police Custody episode in October 2021
Detective Inspector Clare Gilbert reviewing a victim interview during the police investigation
Another of Grimes’s victims called Michael also features in the new 24 Hours In Police Custody
DI Gilbert adds that Grimes never showed ‘any real emotion’ in his police interviews but describes this as ‘power and control’.
She continues: ‘I’m always open to rehabilitation and for offenders to own and acknowledge the crimes that they’ve committed. But that’s not an option in this case.
‘Carson’s offending has gone on for too many years. He’s managed to manipulate the systems and been allowed to get away with it.
‘I have absolutely no doubt that he won’t be engaging in any of those programmes around rehabilitation or acknowledging any of the abuse that he’s committed over the years. He’s a man that will never do that.’
The episode also hears from Grimes’s victims as they prepare to attend his second sentencing in June 2025.
One called Michael says: ‘I just want him to know that he’s not a part of my life anymore. He’s not at the back of my mind. I was going to look him in the eye, yeah, just to let him know that he haven’t got away with it.’
Another called Patrick says: ‘Bit nervous as obviously it is 38 years since I’ve seen this predator. Obviously you never forget that, what’s happened to you.
‘It’s always going to be there. For me, it’s to stop blaming myself really. I hid for 38 years. But I’m not doing it no more.’
A third victim is seen being asked whether he wants to attend court, but says: ‘I think I need to stay away.’
An officer tells him: ‘You have to do what’s right for you, you know we’ll support you either way. All of those 37 years of emotion is going to spill over. But once you connect with those emotions, they’re a bit strong aren’t they.’
In a victim impact statement read at that sentencing hearing, one victim said: ‘I was good at hiding things and never told anyone about what happened to me.
‘He came back into my life when I watched 24 hours in Police Custody. I became emotional, it all came back to me. I have built up the courage and confidence since watching the TV programme to fight for justice.
Detective Inspector Clare Gilbert is briefed on the new Grimes probe during the programme
Grimes is shown in a police station during the 24 Hours in Police Custody episode in 2021
Bedfordshire Police detectives in the 24 Hours in Police Custody episode in 2021
‘What he did to me has affected all areas of my life since I was 14 or 15 years old. I still feel as ashamed now as I did then despite knowing it was not my fault. I have suffered from intrusive thoughts all my life since that time and have self-medicated.
‘I was sectioned a few times for my own safety due to suicide attempts. This ruined my marriage because I could not hold a relationship down. I lost contact with my son and did not see him for 10 years and it still affects our relationship now.’
The victim added that they ‘go on a complete downer’ every few months and their ‘relationships have been ruined and have failed because of him’.
The judge said at the time that Grimes had groomed and terrified victims into his acts of abuse, telling him: ‘I hope you don’t see the light of freedom again’.
Detective Chief Superintendent Zara Brown, head of Bedfordshire Police’s crime and public protection unit, said: ‘Without a doubt, this was one of the largest child sexual abuse and exploitation cases that we have ever dealt with, and Grimes is one of the most depraved predators that we have come across.
‘He targeted young, vulnerable people for his own sexual gratification by pretending to be a friend to them and inviting them to his house. He then plied them with drink and drugs before subjecting them to horrific sexual abuse.
‘All the victims have carried the trauma he inflicted on them well into adulthood, with many experiencing long-term emotional and psychological harm.
‘Some have struggled with trust, relationships, and mental health, and the impact of his actions has shaped their lives in ways that cannot be undone.’
She added that even though Grimes had already been given a life sentence, it was ‘important to bring further charges against him to get justice for the additional victims who showed such bravery in coming forward’.
’24 Hours in Police Custody: Burying Horror’ is on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm
