Boy who killer
the third division of the Sunderland City Tec League
The schoolboy was falling deeper and deeper into trouble with the law. Between 1984 and 1996, he clocked up convictions for 61 offences.
A huge fan of Sunderland AFC, Grieveson got a reputation as a troublemaker during his time at schools in Sunderland.
But he was also viewed as quick- witted and cunning. He would constantly change his story when quizzed by police and, according to those who knew him, enjoyed playing “mind games”.
By age 18, Grieveson was regularly sniffing glue, stealing cars and smoking cannabis.
The family home would be searched by police on a regular basis.
After leaving Thornhill School, his only known job was as a catering assistant as part of a youth training scheme.
Professor Derek Perkins, who carried out a series of psychological tests on Grieveson, said absence of stability at home was a “key factor” in the killer’s future conduct.
Professor Perkins said: “He described a chaotic home life in which he was witness to violence against his mother by his father and spoke about a need to leave home to avoid that violence.
“He describes having hostile feelings, resentful feeling towards his father as a result of that
“He felt he really came off the rails at the age of about 11 when various antisocial behaviours increased, such as truancy, sniffing glue and taking cannabis.
“He became involved with people doing similar things.”