BEN HERRING FROM HULL SENTENCED FOR CHILD KIDNAPPING AND ABUSE IN HULL PARK
In June 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Ben Herring, a 21-year-old man from Hull, whose actions shocked the local community and prompted a serious legal response.The sequence of events began with Herring's arrest in January 2016, after authorities uncovered his involvement in distributing highly disturbing images depicting child sexual abuse.
These images included graphic content of toddlers being raped, which he shared through online channels.
The police investigation was initiated after information was gathered by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) service, revealing Herring's role as an administrator of a messaging platform called "onlysendbaby." During the initial arrest, authorities also discovered that Herring had engaged in conversations that questioned the morality of harming infants, including discussions about killing a baby.
Furthermore, police found evidence that he had been searching for babysitting jobs within Hull, raising concerns about his intentions and potential access to children.
Despite the severity of these findings, Herring was released on bail after his first arrest, a decision that would later be scrutinized given subsequent events.
Less than a month after his initial detention, Herring committed a further heinous act by sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy.
Following a second arrest and interview, he was again released, which drew criticism from law enforcement and the public alike.
The situation escalated in May of the same year when Herring targeted a young boy aged seven in a Hull park near Porter Street, a popular area in the city center.
The incident occurred as the child was playing on a swing in a children's play area.
Herring approached the boy from behind, began pushing him on the swing, and then asked, "Do you want to come for a walk?" The boy responded with a firm "No," but Herring proceeded to lift him from behind and attempted to carry him away towards nearby bushes.
Fortunately, the young victim struggled fiercely, pushing and moving to escape.
His resistance was successful, and he managed to break free, running away crying and distressed.
Herring's attempt to abduct the child was thwarted, but the incident underscored the danger he posed.
The court heard that had Herring succeeded in taking the boy, he would have subjected him to sexual assault, a fact that deeply concerned the judge presiding over the case.
During the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court, Judge David Tremberg addressed the gravity of Herring's actions.
He stated, "Had that boy gone with you, or had you succeeded in taking him away, it is clear by your admission to count two [kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence] that you would have submitted him to sexual abuse.
And given your interest and preoccupation, there was, in my judgement, a significant risk this abuse would have taken a substantially graver form than your behaviour in count one [sexual assault of a child under 13]." Herring pleaded guilty to the charges of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault of a child under 13.
Additionally, he admitted to three counts of distributing indecent photographs of children.
The police investigation into his mobile phone revealed even more disturbing content, including images of a four-year-old girl with a bag over her head, her eyes closed, and the word "rape" written on her torso in dark ink.
These images had been created just a month prior to his arrest, providing strong evidence of his motive for the kidnapping.
Judge Tremberg sentenced Herring to life imprisonment, emphasizing that he was deemed dangerous and posed a "substantial" risk to the public.
The minimum term Herring must serve before being eligible for parole is set at 17 months, but he will only be released when the parole board determines it is safe to do so.
Herring's case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with such predatory tendencies, and the community of Hull continues to grapple with the aftermath of these disturbing events.
