March 2020

Pervert performed solo sex act on late night Southeastern High Speed train to Kent

A smirking pervert was captured on camera by one of his victims as he exposed himself and performed a sex act on a late-night high speed train, a court heard.

The woman not only managed to take a photo of Dean Benjamin but was brave enough to challenge him about his lewd behaviour.

The 38-year-old targeted three female passengers, travelling separately and alone, on the 23.37 high speed Southeastern service from London’s St Pancras International station to Kent on April 19 last year.

Benjamin was on bail at the time for a similar offence of exposure and was subsequently jailed for six-and-a-half months.

But having been due for release next Thursday (March 12), the sex pest has now been locked up for a further 10 months.

He had admitted two charges of exposure and one of outraging public decency at a previous hearing and appeared for sentencing on Thursday via video link with Bedford Prison.

Judge Julian Smith also imposed a ban on Benjamin from travelling by train unless he uses an Oyster or bank or card in his name.

He is also prohibited from sitting next to or opposite any lone women, having remarked when Benjamin pleaded guilty: “This is not merely a case of exposure in a few moments when someone can walk away and leave, but in a close environment.”

Prosecutor Richard Witcombe said Benjamin’s first victim was confronted by Benjamin as he “aggressively” adjusted his trousers before hiding his manhood with a scarf.

Benjamin, who is from Bedford, then began performing a sex act on himself before moving seats.

The woman, who feared he might touch her, got off the train at Stratford International and reported the incident.

He then sat opposite his second victim, who saw him performing a sex act while smirking at her.

The court heard she secretly took a photo of him before challenging his behaviour.

She also told police Benjamin had approached her on the station platform before getting on the train, telling her: “You are going home with me”.

The prosecutor said a third victim told police how she had found herself sitting opposite him on the same train.

She began feeling “uncomfortable” as he began doing a sex act under his clothing for “at least a minute-and-a-half”.

Benjamin was eventually booted off the train at Ashford International.

As well as his prison sentence, Benjamin was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order which includes the restrictions on any future train travel.

December 2019

Four years in prison for Sandy man who sent sexually explicit messages to a young girl

A man from Sandy will be spending the next four years behind bars for grooming a young girl online and sending her sexually explicit messages.

Craig Hall, 47, of The Crescent, Sandy, used an online networking app to start a conversation with the 12-year-old girl. He quickly moved the chat to WhatsApp, despite the girl stating her age on numerous occasions.

Over a period of 10 days, he sent a number of highly sexualised messages to the young girl and tried to pressure her into participating in sexual activity by asking her to send him inappropriate photos of herself.

Hall was arrested after police received information about his activity and a number of his devices were seized and examined, including a phone, tablet, camera, disc drive and SD card.

He was handed his sentence on Thursday at Luton Crown Court after being found guilty of engaging in sexual communication with a child and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is now the subject of a new one, which is valid for 10 years and will have certain conditions he must adhere to on his release from prison.

May 2017

Beeston father-of-three jailed after trying to meet underage girl on Facebook

A father-of-three was jailed for two years today for trying to meet an underage girl for sexual activity.

Craig Hall, 44, from High Road, Beeston, near Sandy, thought he was talking to a girl who was under 13 on Facebook over his phone.

In fact it was an older woman who reported the conversation to the police, Luton Crown Court heard.

Hall was convicted by a jury of three charges of attempting to incite a girl aged under 13 in sexual activity during Facebook conversations on March 22 to 23 last year.

Judge Barbara Mensah said Hall’s claim that his phone and Facebook account had been accessed by somebody else was not believed by her or by the jury.

The judge said he must abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely and register as a Sex Offender for 10 years.

December 2019

Leighton Buzzard paedophile jailed 11 years for sexually abusing child

A 64-year-old man from Leighton Buzzard will be spending 11 years behind bars for sexually abusing a child.

Terry Taylor of Kingfisher Drive, Leighton Buzzard, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court today (Friday) after being found guilty of 11 counts of sexual abuse.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The abuse happened over several weeks within the last 18 months, in which Taylor repeatedly touched the child both over and inside of clothing.

Eventually, the child decided to tell an adult what Taylor was doing, and he was reported to police.

December 2019

Four years for Dunstable man for sexually assaulting a young girl

A Dunstable man, who sexually assaulted a young girl, has been jailed for four years.

Kabirul Islam, 41, of High Street South, Dunstable, was found guilty of one count of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by penetration and two counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching.