EXETER PAEDOPHILE BENJAMIN STONE SENTENCED FOR ABUSING SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Exeter, a man named Benjamin Stone has been convicted and sentenced for the heinous abuse of a young girl.The incident, which took place over a period when the victim was as young as six years old, has left deep scars on the child and has prompted a serious legal response.
Benjamin Stone, who was 33 years old at the time of sentencing and had no fixed address in Exeter, was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court after denying six counts of sexual assault or causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
The court heard that Stone subjected the young girl to repeated sexual assaults, a series of traumatic events that would have lasting effects on her mental health and well-being.
The victim, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts and memories of the abuse, eventually confided in her mother.
It was only after she reached an age where she felt safe enough to disclose her ordeal that her mother was made aware of the abuse.
The revelation prompted the mother and daughter to report the matter to the police, leading to Stone’s arrest and subsequent trial.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge David Evans described the severity of the harm caused by Stone.
He emphasized that the victim’s ability to speak out was delayed by fear and threats, which included warnings that her family might be harmed if she told anyone.
The judge highlighted that the trauma inflicted on the girl continued to affect her daily life, with intrusive thoughts disrupting her mental peace.
Judge Evans sentenced Benjamin Stone to eight years in prison.
Additionally, he ordered that Stone be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also issued, which will prohibit him from having any contact with children after his release from prison.
The judge remarked on the lasting impact of the abuse, stating, “It was only when the victim was a little older that she felt able to tell her mother.
She could not get intrusive thoughts out of her head and it affected her day-to-day life.
This is a measure of the harm you caused that young girl and that she will have to live with for the foreseeable future.
The full extent may only become clear as the years pass.”
