Ex-RFU Executive Banned From Twickenham

Twickenham Ban: Grenville-Jones

A former England Rugby executive has been banned from Twickenham - under threat of imprisonment - following the bitter break-up of his relationship with the sporting body’s legal chief.

Ex-RFU Commercial Director Robert Spencer Grenville-Jones, 47, was arrested and charged with stalking solicitor and mother-of-two Kate Mowbray and has now received a court-imposed five-year restraining order.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court yesterday heard the couple had a turbulent relationship with Grenville-Jones smashing items; kicking glass door panels and throwing a wine bottle and suitcase at Ms Mowbray.

She is currently Head of Legal at England Rugby, having been senior legal counsel to the RFU between January, 2020 and March, 2024.

Grenville-Jones, of Clares Cottage, Higher Bockhampton, Dorset initially appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court last April, charged with stalking his ex on dates after March 2, last year.

He was also charged with causing criminal damage to the glass panels to the front door of her south-west London property on March 2, 2024.

Grenville-Jones always denied the charges and was due to stand trial this week before a jury until Ms Mowbray refused to give evidence and the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the case.

However, Judge Mark Bryant-Herron KC announced: “It is clear on the evidence I have reviewed that there is, in my judgement, an ongoing risk that in absence of a Restraining Order this defendant is likely to pursue a course of conduct in relation to this lady and her children that amounts to harassment.”

The court also heard Grenville-Jones made a completely false report of child abuse against Ms Mowbray to social services, which she described as “malicious.”

“She has made a statement, which I have to treat as hearsay, in which she describes how her ex-partner assaulted her during their three-year relationship and since it ended in March, last year he has been harassing and stalking her,” said the Judge.

“She describes this defendant becoming more physically and verbally abusive. In December, 2022 there was a heated argument, during which he accused her of cheating.

“In February, 2023 she recalls Mr Grenville-Jones throwing her out of their hotel room and a bottle of wine after her and there was criminal damage at her house.

Legal Chief: Kate Mowbray

“In August, 2023, after the defendant lost his job, there was an argument in a pub and when they got home Ms Mowbray says she was pushed hard into a wall, giving her a black eye.

“Also a porcelain object was thrown across the kitchen by this defendant and smashed.

“By September, 2023 she describes erratic behaviour and abusive messages.

“She describes the defendant grabbing her by the shoulders during an argument and she considered packing her bags and leaving the house and says he also cut up her work pass.

“He grabbed the suitcase and threw the contents across the room, with the suitcase hitting her in the face and she says he then smashed her computer monitor and put his hands around her throat.

“The relationship came to and end formally on March 2, last year and shortly afterwards he attended her property and she heard the doorbell going repeatedly, with Mr Grenville-Jones peering through the door.

“She says she opened the front door and asked him to leave and he barged into the house and was, in her words ‘angry and aggressive.’

“He picked up a Tesco shopping bag and threw it outside and she closed the front door on him. He kicked the door repeatedly, damaging the glass and she describes herself as ‘feeling petrified.’

“Between March and April he sent her messages, which she describes as nasty and some as loving. There were over two hundred WhatsApp messages between April 8 and 13.”

The court heard that since the formal break-up Grenville-Jones attended her property uninvited on four occasions.

This included a visit on April 12, last year. “He knocked on the door and she hid behind the sofa and he then messaged her from the doorstep. 

“She called the police and he was asked to leave.”

“She says in January, this year she was alerted to child services and it was explained to her that Mr Grenville-Jones made allegations off child abuse against her, regarding her own children.

“She describes his actions in reporting her to the police, who took no further action, as ‘malicious.’

“The prosecution are not proceeding against you and I have considered it appropriate to impose a Restraining Order on you,” Judge Bryant-Herron told Grenville-Jones.

“Five years is the necessary length of the order to meet the risk I have identified. This is a court order and any breach is an offence punishable by imprisonment.”

Grenville-Jones is prohibited from contacting Ms Mowbray and her two children from a previous relationship; attending their residence and school and Ms Mowbray’s workplace - Twickenham Stadium.

Earlier prosecutor John Clifford told the court: “The Crown have reviewed the case and in light of the withdrawal statement in which she makes it clear she does not wish to support the prosecution because she wishes to get on with her life, this is not a case where the complainant should be summonsed.

“There was a previous solicitors undertaking by the defendant not to contact the complainant and he breached that undertaking and breached his bail in May, last year when he contacted her.

“This defendant reported her in regards to allegations of child abuse that were totally fabricated and false.

“In her victim impact statement she describes how the events have affected her and she now wishes to move on and for her and her children to live in peace.

“She says: ‘I am absolutely terrified that someone I have not seen in ten months should try to impact my child custody.’

“The terms of the order have been agreed. The officer in the case has spoken to her and she supports the conditions.”

Grenville-Jones’ lawyer Danielle Borden said: “The defendant accepts it is necessary to make the order to ensure there is no contact between these individuals.”