BENJAMIN KINDERMAN SHOCKS STREATHAM AND MARLBOROUGH WITH SEXUAL ABUSE REVELATIONS

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Marlborough and Streatham, Benjamin Kinderman, aged 38, was convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed during his teenage years. The crimes, which spanned from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, involved the abuse of two young girls and have left lasting scars on their lives.

Kinderman’s troubling history came to light during a court hearing at Swindon Crown Court, where it was revealed that he had sexually assaulted two girls while still in his teens. The first victim, an older girl, was no more than 10 years old at the time of the assaults. These incidents occurred at his parents’ farm near Marlborough, where he took her to secluded areas, including a bonfire site, and engaged in inappropriate sexual touching despite her protests. The court heard that she endured significant pain and distress during these episodes, which he continued despite her pleas for him to stop.

One particularly disturbing incident took place in a cowshed, where Kinderman lured her to retrieve a ball that had been hit into the next shed. He then proceeded to molest her as he lifted her over a dividing wall. The abuse extended to a car journey, where he assaulted her in the presence of others, adding to the trauma she experienced.

The second victim, a girl approximately six years old at the time, also suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Kinderman. She recounted that he had touched her sexually while she was lying in bed with him, with other individuals present in the room, further complicating her feelings of betrayal and confusion.

In a letter sent in 2009, while the older victim was attending university and shortly before Kinderman’s baptism, he expressed remorse, hoping to be forgiven for his actions. He wrote to her that he hoped he had been forgiven for having “behaved improperly,” and suggested that divine forgiveness was possible for those truly repentant, reflecting his attempt to seek absolution.

During a police interview in 2020, Kinderman attempted to rationalize his past behavior, claiming that what he had done was “experimenting.” He admitted that his actions were entirely wrong, acknowledging the severity of his misconduct. The victims’ statements painted a stark picture of the lasting impact his abuse had on their mental health. The older girl described suffering breakdowns at university, feeling that Kinderman’s letter minimized the trauma she endured. She expressed that his actions had profoundly affected her, including fears about her future relationships and her ability to marry and have children.

The second victim revealed that the abuse had left her with a distorted view of relationships, leading her into a series of unhealthy and damaging partnerships. She also expressed regret for not recognizing earlier what her older friend had endured, highlighting the deep emotional scars left by Kinderman’s actions.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Crabtree sentenced Kinderman to three years in prison. The judge emphasized that the guilt for the abuse lay solely with Kinderman, stating, “She has nothing to be guilty for. The guilt lies with one person in this courtroom and that is you.” He further detailed the profound and enduring effects of the abuse on the older victim, noting her fears and mental health struggles during her teenage years. The judge reaffirmed that Kinderman, who resides in Streatham, London, had pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault at an earlier hearing. As part of his sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Earlier, in February 2021, Kinderman had admitted to multiple sexual assaults on young girls between 1997 and 2004, when he was in his early twenties. These assaults involved victims aged between eight and 14 near Marlborough, Wiltshire. During that hearing at Swindon Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault but denied a fifth count involving multiple assaults on one victim. Judge Peter Crabtree indicated that custody was “almost inevitable,” setting a date for sentencing on April 12 and warning that the period on bail would allow Kinderman to prepare for his future.

Throughout the proceedings, the court underscored the seriousness of the offenses, emphasizing that the starting point for sentencing would be a lengthy prison term. The judge highlighted that Kinderman’s guilty plea was a mitigating factor, and that his age at the time of the offenses—under 18—would be taken into account. The court ordered him to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.