Saint James Church Burton Lazars
From Renowned Artisan to Prison. The Downfall of Melton Organ Builder Christopher Gray
Christopher Paul Gray, a prominent Local Organ Builder has traded his workshop for a prison cell following a persistent campaign of stalking and repeated breaches of court orders.
Known across the region for his specialised trade, Christopher Gray’s company notably carried out major restoration and modification work on the historic 1862 Gray & Davison organ at St Mary's Church in Ketton, alongside various emergency repairs at other Rutland parish churches.
However, a timeline of criminal incidents spanning 2025 and 2026 ultimately led to his removal from public office and a custodial prison sentence.
The Timeline of Incidents, Conviction, and Disqualification
16 December 2025 The First Restraining Order. Following initial harassment concerns, Leicester Magistrates' Court issued a restraining order prohibiting Christopher Gray from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, alongside strict bans on entering specific locations.
31 December 2025 to 25 January 2026 Continued Stalking. Defying the court mandate, Christopher Gray engaged in a fixated campaign over the new year. He caused severe alarm and distress by repeatedly showing up at the woman’s home and bombarding her with letters.
26 January 2026 First Conviction & Suspended Sentence. Christopher Gray appeared before Leicester Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to stalking charges and breaching his month-old restraining order. The court handed him a four-week prison sentence, suspended for six months.
March 2026 Council Disqualification. Following his criminal conviction, the Waltham on the Wolds and Thorpe Arnold Parish Council formally disqualified Christopher Gray from his seat under Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972, declaring a sudden casual vacancy for his office.
Despite avoiding immediate jail time in January, Christopher Gray refused to halt his behavior, triggering a sequence of events that landed him behind bars in 2026.
2 March 2026 The Village Hall Breach. Gray intentionally flouted his restrictions once again by traveling to the Burton Lazars Village Hall, located just south of Melton Mowbray, to intercept and communicate with the victim. He was subsequently arrested and remanded in custody.
14 April 2026 Sentenced to Immediate Prison Time. Christopher Gray returned to Leicester Magistrates' Court. Having pleaded guilty to the further stalking charges and the subsequent breach, a District Judge activated his suspended sentence and added further jail time, ordering a total custodial period of 30 weeks in prison.
9 April 2026 / September 2026 The Prison Letter Offence. Even while incarcerated at HMP Leicester, Christopher Gray breached his restraining order yet again by sending the victim an unsolicited letter from his cell. On 29 September 2026, he appeared in court via a secondary case to plead guilty to this latest breach.
Probation services flagged Gray to the court as a "very high risk" to the complainant. Consequently, the Chief Magistrate added an extra four-week concurrent prison sentence and extended his protective Stalking Protection Order until December 2028, ensuring the former organ builder remains under strict legal monitoring upon any future release.
For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit: https://www.oakhamandrutlandnews.com/
Discover Oakham High Street
Including Market Place, Market Street, Church Street, Crown Walk,
John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.
Including Market Place, Market Street, Church Street, Crown Walk,
John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.
https://www.oakhamandrutlandnews.com/highstreetoakham
Discover Oakham
Discover Oakham Northgate Oakham Rutland
Oakham And Rutland What's On Guide
Rutland Christmas
Oakham and Rutland Sports and Fitness Events News
Stay Connected with LGBTQ+ Gay Oakham Rutland News Events Advice and Support
Road Closures Rutland Highways
Discover Opportunities with
Oakham And Rutland News
Job Vacancies Oakham Rutland
