BENJAMIN HOLT AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN EXETER AND EXMOUTH
A man named Benjamin Holt has been sentenced to prison after becoming involved in a disturbing online scheme with a known paedophile from Exmouth, Gareth Weeks, to exploit a 14-year-old boy.Holt, who resides in Exeter, engaged in group chats on social media platforms where he, Weeks, and the young victim exchanged messages filled with depraved sexual fantasies.
During these conversations, Holt explicitly asked the boy to perform sexual acts on himself.
The discussions also revealed plans to arrange a physical meeting for the purpose of sexual activity.
Fortunately, the intended victim became aware of the danger and chose to withdraw from the meeting, preventing any further harm.
Law enforcement authorities uncovered these incriminating messages following the arrest of Gareth Weeks in Exmouth.
Weeks, aged 55, was detained on suspicion of engaging in sexual activities with another 14-year-old boy he had met through the gay dating app Grindr.
Weeks was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2020 for his offences.
Further investigations revealed that Holt had downloaded a disturbing video depicting a boy approximately nine years old engaging in sexual acts with a dog.
Police also discovered another clip involving bestiality featuring an adult woman on Holt’s phone.
Holt’s criminal history includes being a registered sex offender, with previous convictions dating back to his teenage years for downloading images of boys.
His most recent conviction prior to this case was in 2012 for similar offences.
Benjamin Holt, aged 37 and living at Old Market Close in Exeter, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, possessing indecent images of children through downloads, and possessing extreme pornography.
As a result, he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
Additionally, he received a two-year, eight-month extension to his license period and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed, banning him from any contact with children for a period of 15 years.
The presiding judge emphasized the severity of Holt’s intentions, stating, “This was not a fantasy; you meant for this to happen.
It was only the boy’s withdrawal from the group chat that prevented further harm.
You have a very strong sexual interest in young boys.” The judge further noted Holt’s candid admission in his probation report about his intense desire to meet and abuse young children.
Prosecutor Miss Emily Pitts explained that Holt’s identification came as part of a police investigation into more serious abuse offences.
The inquiry uncovered Holt’s involvement in the group chats, where he discussed engaging in various sexual acts with the young boy.
The incriminating images and messages were retrieved from Holt’s devices after police seized them.
Defense lawyer Miss Rachel Smith acknowledged Holt’s awareness of his problematic behavior and expressed her client’s desire to seek help.
She attributed his actions to the influence of Gareth Weeks, describing it as “catastrophic.” Gareth Weeks, from Bassetts Gardens in Exmouth, had previously admitted to multiple offences, including two counts of sexual activity with a child, grooming, inciting a child to sexual activity, and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
He was also convicted of making, distributing, and possessing indecent images of children.
Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Weeks to 15 years in prison, with an additional six-year extended license, and declared him a dangerous offender.
Weeks had a background as a stage manager, working with prominent celebrities at theatres across Britain, and boasted of knowing well-known figures such as Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and David Walliams.
His criminal record includes convictions for child sex offences in 1993 and 2012.
Despite this, he continued to volunteer in amateur theatre groups in Devon and was involved in organizing shows until his arrest.
