BENJAMIN WOODMANSEY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNDERAGE GIRLS IN HULL
In October 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Benjamin Woodmansey, a 31-year-old man from Hull, who was found guilty of filming himself engaging in sexual acts with two underage schoolgirls.The footage was stored on his computer in a folder ominously titled "personal filth," highlighting the depravity of his actions.
Woodmansey was fully aware that the girls he engaged with were minors.
One of the victims even visited him while dressed in her school uniform, a clear indication of her age and vulnerability.
Despite this, Woodmansey claimed that he lacked the confidence to pursue a relationship with someone his own age, a justification that a judge dismissed as unacceptable.
The court heard that Woodmansey, who was in his twenties at the time of the abuse, met one of the girls in Pearson Park, located in west Hull.
The girl was in a distressed state, feeling suicidal after vomiting due to alcohol consumption.
According to Hull Crown Court, Woodmansey approached her, offered comfort, and then invited her back to his flat in Park Grove, also in west Hull.
There, he proceeded to give her a massage and then asked if she wanted to "fool around," an invitation she accepted while still under the influence of alcohol.
Earlier, during an incident when Woodmansey had been drinking, he had laid on top of the girl on a grassy area and touched her inappropriately.
She responded by telling him to stop, saying, "Get off me, stop touching me up, you’re being really crude." Following the massage incident, the girl continued to have sexual encounters with Woodmansey, who was already involved in a sexual relationship with another schoolgirl.
Prosecutor Charlotte Baines described the situation as "like being in a love triangle," which the girl expressed she disliked.
Woodmansey justified his actions by claiming he did not have a girlfriend his own age because he lacked confidence.
He also coerced one of the girls into watching pornography, which she believed depicted underage girls.
During their encounters, Woodmansey was insistent on taking photographs of the girls during sex, some of which were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of indecency.
Additionally, he bought the girls takeaways and their favorite chocolates, attempting to maintain a facade of kindness amid the abuse.
Throughout the ordeal, the girls repeatedly told Woodmansey that what they were doing was illegal, fully aware of their underage status.
Despite this, he persisted in trying to persuade one girl to see him as her boyfriend.
The mental health of one of the victims deteriorated significantly, suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.
She told Woodmansey about her struggles, but he largely ignored her distress, according to court reports.
Woodmansey also took explicit photographs and videos of both girls, some of which were classified as Category A material.
When questioned about the photographs, Judge Mark Bury asked whether they had been taken with the victims' knowledge.
Prosecutor Charlotte Baines confirmed that both girls were aware of the recordings, with one appearing to be comfortable with the situation, while the other showed signs of discomfort.
A victim impact statement read aloud in court revealed the profound and lasting effects of the abuse.
One girl described suffering from "major trust issues" and feeling anxious whenever she encounters someone who resembles Woodmansey.
She expressed that she initially saw him as a supportive friend but now recognizes that he was grooming her for abuse.
Woodmansey, of Main Street, Paull, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child and four counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
In sentencing, Judge Bury emphasized that Woodmansey had exploited a girl already vulnerable due to her mental health issues.
The judge condemned his conduct as driven by sexual gratification, dismissing his claim of naivety and awkwardness around age-appropriate females as no excuse.
He concluded that the severity of the crimes warranted a significant prison sentence, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the need to protect the community from such predatory behavior.
