PEDOPHILE Informant Protected While Abusing Children

A convicted paedophile who spent decades infiltrating UK environmental groups was simultaneously feeding intelligence to police while committing horrific crimes against children, exposing dangerous gaps in law enforcement oversight that put innocent lives at risk.

Story Highlights

Nick Gratwick convicted of 38 pedophile offences while serving as long-term police informant
Infiltrated environmental and animal rights groups for decades under police protection
National Crime Agency described evidence as “some of the worst” ever encountered
Case exposes systemic failures in police oversight of covert informants

Police Informant’s Decades-Long Deception

Nick Gratwick operated as a trusted police informant from the 1990s through 2010s, embedding himself within UK environmental and animal rights activist groups while simultaneously planning and executing extensive child sexual abuse. Known as “Radio Nick” for facilitating protest communications during high-profile campaigns like the 1996 Newbury bypass protests, Gratwick gained the complete trust of activist communities. His dual role allowed him to exploit his position for personal gain while evading scrutiny for his criminal activities spanning multiple countries.

Horrific Scale of Criminal Activity Revealed

Gratwick’s conviction on 38 paedophile offences represents one of the most severe cases encountered by UK authorities. The National Crime Agency investigators described the evidence against him as among the worst they had ever seen, involving extensive online child abuse activities and planning abuse across international borders. His criminal behavior overlapped directly with his informant activities, raising serious questions about what police handlers knew and when they knew it.

Systemic Failures in Police Oversight

The Gratwick case exposes fundamental weaknesses in how UK police manage covert human intelligence sources. A 2019 HMICFRS report had already identified inconsistencies and dangerous gaps in oversight of informants, yet these warnings went unheeded. The reliance on criminals as informants creates what experts call a “moral hazard,” where intelligence value can outweigh ethical considerations. This case demonstrates how insufficient vetting and monitoring can enable predators to exploit their protected status.

Betrayal of Activist Communities and Public Trust

Environmental and animal rights groups targeted by Gratwick’s infiltration now face a profound crisis of trust. These organizations, motivated by legitimate social and environmental causes, were completely unaware they harbored a dangerous predator under police protection. The betrayal extends beyond activist circles to broader public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to protect society from the very criminals they employ as informants.

Man who raped six years olds was a police informer who spied on environmental activists! His offences include paying to assault children in UK and abroad! He was an informer who -worked for the police- infiltrating environmental and animal rights protests!https://t.co/98UMqyiO1i pic.twitter.com/Ap7KouN4M2

— Barb in Alberta☕🍁🇺🇦Resist Spread truth Rest up (@barbetta1) October 10, 2025

The case demands immediate reform of covert policing practices, including independent oversight and robust vetting procedures. Without fundamental changes, law enforcement agencies risk becoming unwitting accomplices to the criminals they claim to monitor, undermining both justice and public safety.