June 2022

Newton Abbot man jailed for sexually abusing 11-year-old girl

A perverted Newton Abbot man has been jailed for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl.

Benjamin Goldsworthy searched the internet to find stories of child sexual abuse which he turned into reality, a court heard.

He acted out his fantasies by touching the girl as she played games.

He was convicted at a trial in May of sexual assault and two offences of assault by penetration and returned to court today, Wednesday [June 15] to be sentenced.

The judge said he had shown no remorse and still denied the offences even though the evidence against him had been overwhelming.

Judge David Evans said: “You were acting out your perverted sexual urges. The evidence shown to the jury of child abuse material you were accessing and reading on your mobile phone in early 2019 clearly demonstrated you had a sexual interest in young girls.

“You had no sensible explanation why you were accessing this material before and after the abuse and you had no explanation about why she had made the accusations against you.”

Goldsworthy, aged 41, of Bugle Place, Newton Abbot, was jailed for seven years with a further 12 months supervision taking the total to eight years.

The victim was initially too frightened and confused to say what had happened to her but revealed the truth to her mother in February 2019.

She said in a statement that since the incidents she had become wary of strangers and suffered panic attacks.

Her mum said she had become introverted but was now making improvements.

Goldsworthy must serve at least half of his seven year sentence in prison.

He will only be released once the parole board decide it is safe to do so.

He will be released subject to a closely monitored licence for a total of eight years.

The defendant was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his contact with children and the internet.

He must also sign the sex offender register.