A 72-year-old man, facing serious sexual offense charges, was discovered deceased at the base of a cliff in Cornwall, approximately 400 miles from his Kent home. David John Grover, from Margate, was found on rocks in Mousehole last November after he failed to appear for the verdict in his trial at Canterbury Crown Court. His family has stated that he was devastated by what they described as “false allegations.”
Discovery and Emergency Response
Walkers spotted Mr. Grover’s body on November 22, triggering a significant emergency response. Coastguard cliff rescue teams and RNLI crews were dispatched to search the cliff face and the waters below. The discovery occurred the day after Mr. Grover was scheduled to hear the verdict in his trial. A high-risk missing person warrant had been issued by Kent Police when he did not attend court.
Travel and Disappearance
Evidence presented at an inquest indicated that Mr. Grover traveled from Margate to a train station, withdrew £200 in cash, and proceeded to St. Pancras in London. He was subsequently found dead in Mousehole, a village near Penzance, the following day. This journey was undertaken after he absconded from his trial.
Inquest into Death
An inquest into Mr. Grover’s death was held in Truro. The hearing was told that his health began to decline approximately two years before his death, coinciding with the emergence of allegations of a sexual nature against him. These allegations pertained to events that allegedly occurred three decades prior.
Charges Faced by Mr. Grover
Mr. Grover had been facing five charges: three counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual assault, and a fifth charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. These charges were connected to an alleged sexual assault on a female under the age of 14.
Family’s Account and Impact of Allegations
Mr. Grover’s daughter, Sherie Seal, provided testimony at the coroner’s court. She described her father as a man with a great personality and sense of humor, who was proud and well-loved by his family and friends. She highlighted his passion for bowling, noting he was the captain of the Margate bowling club. He also enjoyed spending time with his dog, whom he had raised from a puppy, and playing board games with his grandchildren.
Ms. Seal emphasized the profound negative impact the allegations had on her father’s well-being. “His overall health deteriorated when false allegations were made against him that happened 30 years ago. That caused him sleepless nights,” she told the inquest. She attended his trial daily to offer support and observed his distress. “He had already been destroyed the day false allegations were made… On the day of the closing statements you could see that my dad was broken. He was very quiet and distant. I told him it would be okay,” Ms. Seal recounted.
She further stated that her father maintained his innocence and felt he was mistreated by the police during the investigation. “Dad was a strong living man and he was ruined by an un
