BENJAMIN MONTAGUE CREWE PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND SEX OFFENCES
| Red Rose Database
Crewe Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the community of Crewe, Benjamin Peter Montague, aged 28, has been convicted of possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children and engaging in illegal sexual activities with a minor. The proceedings took place at Chester Crown Court, where the gravity of his offenses was thoroughly examined and met with a stern judicial response.
Montague, residing on Holland Street in Crewe, was found to have accumulated over 100 indecent images of children, a discovery that came to light in 2013 following his arrest on suspicion of having sexual relations with an underage girl. During the investigation, police seized three electronic devices from him, revealing a total of 104 images. These images were categorized into different levels of severity: seven were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content; three fell under Category B; and the remaining 94 were deemed Category C. Additionally, media sharing applications had been installed on his devices, suggesting an intent to distribute or share these illicit images.
Initially, Montague denied any knowledge or involvement with the images. However, in April of the same year, he pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images of children, with the offenses spanning from 2008 to 2013. One of these counts involved possession of indecent videos with the intent to share them. The court heard that the youngest victim depicted in the images was only 10 years old.
Judge Rajeev Shetty presided over the case last week, during which Montague sat with his head bowed, showing remorse or perhaps shame. The judge condemned his actions, stating that Montague’s views of children were distorted and skewed. He emphasized that these images represented victims of sexual abuse whose lives would likely be permanently scarred. The judge further remarked, “People like you are perpetuating that abuse by searching for these images.”
While acknowledging the seriousness of the offenses, Judge Shetty noted that they could have been addressed concurrently with Montague’s previous conviction in 2013. Nonetheless, he sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years, meaning Montague would not serve time unless he reoffends within that period. The court also ordered him to undertake unpaid work and participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program.
In a separate but related case from January 2014, Montague was convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that Montague, then 27, had befriended the girl via a social networking site. Their communication quickly escalated, and he eventually arranged to meet her in person. The first meeting occurred at Queens Park on November 28, 2013, after which Montague drove her to his home in Crewe. There, he asked her to perform oral sex, and later that day, they engaged in full sexual intercourse in his house.
The relationship continued with another meeting early in the morning of December 9th, when Montague picked her up near her home and took her to his residence for further sexual activity. Afterward, he casually returned her to her school. The girl’s parents became aware of her whereabouts when a teacher overheard her discussing her visits with friends, prompting police involvement. During police interviews, the girl admitted that Montague had expressed love for her and claimed he was going through a difficult time because his mother was ill. He had told her that talking to her helped him cope.
Initially, Montague denied instigating the meetings, claiming the girl had asked to meet him. However, he later admitted in court that he was the one who requested the encounters, fully aware that she was only 14 years old. He expressed remorse through a letter read aloud in court, apologizing for his actions and stating that he wished he had listened to his head rather than his emotions. He also remarked that he believed the girl had the body of a 14-year-old but the mind of a 21-year-old.
Judge Shetty sentenced Montague to two and a half years in prison for these offenses, with the understanding that he would serve this time and then be released on license for the remainder of the sentence. The judge emphasized that the fact the girl was underage could not be ignored, and the sentence reflected the seriousness of his crimes.
Outside the court, a relative of the victim expressed a mixture of relief and disappointment. “I feel relieved after hearing the sentence, but as a grandparent, I don’t think it was enough,” they said. “However, at least he is off the streets now, and he won’t be able to harm any more families. It will take us time to recover as a family, but we will do our best to move forward from this difficult period.”
Montague, residing on Holland Street in Crewe, was found to have accumulated over 100 indecent images of children, a discovery that came to light in 2013 following his arrest on suspicion of having sexual relations with an underage girl. During the investigation, police seized three electronic devices from him, revealing a total of 104 images. These images were categorized into different levels of severity: seven were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content; three fell under Category B; and the remaining 94 were deemed Category C. Additionally, media sharing applications had been installed on his devices, suggesting an intent to distribute or share these illicit images.
Initially, Montague denied any knowledge or involvement with the images. However, in April of the same year, he pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images of children, with the offenses spanning from 2008 to 2013. One of these counts involved possession of indecent videos with the intent to share them. The court heard that the youngest victim depicted in the images was only 10 years old.
Judge Rajeev Shetty presided over the case last week, during which Montague sat with his head bowed, showing remorse or perhaps shame. The judge condemned his actions, stating that Montague’s views of children were distorted and skewed. He emphasized that these images represented victims of sexual abuse whose lives would likely be permanently scarred. The judge further remarked, “People like you are perpetuating that abuse by searching for these images.”
While acknowledging the seriousness of the offenses, Judge Shetty noted that they could have been addressed concurrently with Montague’s previous conviction in 2013. Nonetheless, he sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years, meaning Montague would not serve time unless he reoffends within that period. The court also ordered him to undertake unpaid work and participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program.
In a separate but related case from January 2014, Montague was convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. The court heard that Montague, then 27, had befriended the girl via a social networking site. Their communication quickly escalated, and he eventually arranged to meet her in person. The first meeting occurred at Queens Park on November 28, 2013, after which Montague drove her to his home in Crewe. There, he asked her to perform oral sex, and later that day, they engaged in full sexual intercourse in his house.
The relationship continued with another meeting early in the morning of December 9th, when Montague picked her up near her home and took her to his residence for further sexual activity. Afterward, he casually returned her to her school. The girl’s parents became aware of her whereabouts when a teacher overheard her discussing her visits with friends, prompting police involvement. During police interviews, the girl admitted that Montague had expressed love for her and claimed he was going through a difficult time because his mother was ill. He had told her that talking to her helped him cope.
Initially, Montague denied instigating the meetings, claiming the girl had asked to meet him. However, he later admitted in court that he was the one who requested the encounters, fully aware that she was only 14 years old. He expressed remorse through a letter read aloud in court, apologizing for his actions and stating that he wished he had listened to his head rather than his emotions. He also remarked that he believed the girl had the body of a 14-year-old but the mind of a 21-year-old.
Judge Shetty sentenced Montague to two and a half years in prison for these offenses, with the understanding that he would serve this time and then be released on license for the remainder of the sentence. The judge emphasized that the fact the girl was underage could not be ignored, and the sentence reflected the seriousness of his crimes.
Outside the court, a relative of the victim expressed a mixture of relief and disappointment. “I feel relieved after hearing the sentence, but as a grandparent, I don’t think it was enough,” they said. “However, at least he is off the streets now, and he won’t be able to harm any more families. It will take us time to recover as a family, but we will do our best to move forward from this difficult period.”