A former police informant who spent years infiltrating environmental and animal rights movements has been unmasked as a prolific paedophile, following his conviction for multiple serious child abuse offences.
Nick Gratwick, 68, from Mitcham, south London, was found guilty at Guildford Crown Court of 38 offences, including possession of indecent images, online child exploitation, and arranging the abuse of children overseas.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) described the case as one of the most disturbing investigations its child abuse teams have handled.
Gratwick was arrested at Stansted Airport in March while attempting to board a flight to Romania. Officers said his travel plans were linked to an arranged assault of a child. When detained, investigators discovered more than 1,300 indecent images and videos, along with evidence of long-term involvement in online child exploitation networks.
According to the NCA, Gratwick took part in highly disturbing online conversations in which he discussed harming children, offered to pay for sexual access to minors, and even advised others on concealing their crimes.
Former Police Informant Background
Court proceedings revealed that Gratwick had previously worked as a police informant for Thames Valley Police between 1995 and 2003. During that time, he infiltrated environmental and animal rights movements, providing intelligence on campaigns such as the Newbury bypass protest and actions targeting Huntingdon Life Sciences.
An agreed statement between prosecution and defence confirmed that he supplied information to police on political and environmental matters for around six years.
His defence team claimed his online activities were an attempt to identify abusers, but prosecutors rejected that argument, saying there was no evidence he had ever reported any offenders to authorities.
Reaction and Public Concern
After the verdict, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) called Gratwick’s crimes “abhorrent,” while the NCA said his actions reflected a complete lack of remorse and a disregard for the safety of children.
Gratwick will be sentenced on 28 November.
The revelations have prompted calls for a review of police informant oversight, with campaigners questioning how a man later convicted of such serious offences could have worked with law enforcement to infiltrate activist networks.
This case stands as one of the most troubling examples in recent years of failures in informant management and safeguarding practices within British policing.
