Harry Potter star's 'disgust' at schoolfriend who committed sex attack at birthday party

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Cautioned: Joshua Lodge arriving at court

Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint has delivered a scathing attack on a friend who was caught committing a sex act with an underage girl at the star's 18th birthday party.

Joshua Lodge, 19, had been due to stand trial for the offence on Monday but was released with a police caution in a last-minute deal.

But Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the Potter films, was bitter in his criticism of the former schoolfriend who brought shame on his birthday celebration.

He said: "In the light of the verdict I feel it prevalent to issue the following statement.

"I am totally appalled and disgusted by the actions of Mr Joshua Lodge. I am one hundred per cent behind the victim in this case and indeed all victims affected by this type of crime."

Lodge was discovered with the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in a barn at the actor's family home in Hertfordshire. He was one of 120 guests at the lavish party thrown by Grint's parents, 43-year-old Nigel, a memorabilia dealer and former racing driver, and mother Jo, 40.

He was originally charged with sexual assault but this was reduced to sexual activity with a child on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.

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Birthday party: The incident happened at Rupert Grint's 18th birthday party

Although the maximum sentence is still 14 years, Lodge was discharged after accepting a caution. He will have to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for two years.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he left the dock of St Albans Crown Court to be greeted by members of his family.

Lodge, from Cheshunt, met Grint when they attended Richard Hale school in Hertfordshire.

He was said to be one of his closest friends until the events of last September 9.

Grint was reportedly seen to cry on the set of the latest film in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, after learning of the charges against Lodge.

He was expected to have been called as a witness had the case gone to trial.

Prosecutor Ann Evans told the court: "I take the view that the nature of the offence was such that two teenagers at a private party where unfortunately, on all sides, too much drink was taken, a caution would be appropriate.

"After considering the matter over the last few days and, having taken the opportunity to speak to the victim and her family, the crown propose that the defendant is cautioned for this offence.

"The defence is prepared to accede to this. I am sorry this case has been listed for trial and we have not been able to reach a decision until today."

Miss Evans said that there had been no earlier opportunity to offer Lodge a caution because new 'forensic material' had been produced by the police and she had only been able to get statements from Lodge 'refuting' them last week.

A spokesman for the girl's family said: "Given the circumstances surrounding this incident a caution and placement on the Sex Offenders' Register is appropriate punishment."

A member of Lodge's family said: "He's had to put up with the turmoil over this for a year. His mother is in pieces.

"I can't believe this has gone on the way it has. It should never have come to court. It is the first time anything like this has happened to our family."

But Detective Sergeant Pete Frost, who led the investigation, said Lodge was lucky to escape with a caution.

"The maximum sentence is 14 years. Although he would never have got that, if he had admitted it to us at the time it would have saved a lot of aggravation."

 

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