ERDINGTON RAPIST CARVEL BENNETT REFUSES TO APOLOGISE TO 13-YEAR-OLD VICTIM

In August 2021, a disturbing case unfolded in Birmingham involving Carvel Bennett, a man from Erdington, who was accused of heinous crimes committed decades earlier. Bennett, now aged 74, faced serious allegations of sexual assault and child endangerment involving a young girl who was only 13 years old at the time of the incident.

According to court proceedings, Bennett admitted to having engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl during the 1970s. However, he maintained that the encounter was consensual, claiming that the girl had initiated the act, told him she was 16, and that she consented to the sexual activity. Despite his assertions, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court swiftly dismissed his account, taking less than two hours to reach a verdict of guilty on the charge of rape.

Following the conviction, Bennett was scheduled to be sentenced later that day, Tuesday, August 3. Legal experts indicated that he was likely to face a lengthy prison sentence, potentially spending the remainder of his life behind bars due to the severity of the crime and the age of the victim at the time.

The victim, who bravely testified during the trial, revealed that she was only 14 when she gave birth to a baby girl. The child was subsequently put up for adoption. DNA testing confirmed Bennett’s paternity, establishing him as the father of the child. The young woman described feeling 'scared' during the sexual encounter and explained that, although there was no physical violence, she felt unable to resist or fight him.

She also recounted her emotional struggle upon discovering she was pregnant with Bennett’s child. Despite the hardship, she chose to conceal her pregnancy and continued attending school, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Her testimony shed light on the profound impact of the abuse she endured at such a young age.

During the trial, Bennett took the stand to offer his version of events, which was met with skepticism. In a notable exchange with prosecutor Peter Glenser QC, Bennett was asked, ‘Do you feel thoroughly ashamed?’ His response was revealing; he stated, ‘for getting myself in this situation,’ and added that the ordeal had caused him and his family significant pain. He also referenced cultural beliefs, explaining that in his upbringing, interactions with police were considered shameful, which influenced his attitude towards law enforcement.

When questioned about remorse, Bennett vaguely expressed regret, saying, ‘I’m sorry for whatever pain caused to anyone else, it wasn’t a deliberate contemplated act.’ However, his attitude towards the victim was starkly different. Despite the court’s acknowledgment that he was aware of her age at the time and that she had become pregnant, Bennett shockingly declared, ‘I don’t feel I have to apologise to her. I don’t feel I have done anything to her.’

Adding to the disturbing nature of his testimony, Bennett claimed that he was not attracted to the girl and dismissed the sexual encounter as ‘just something that happened’—a situation that ‘built that day.’ He further alleged that police officers had spoken to him while the girl was pregnant, claiming they ‘laughed their heads off’ and took no further action after he provided his account of events.

As the case concludes, the focus remains on the profound impact of Bennett’s actions on his young victim and the justice served in holding him accountable for his crimes in Erdington, Birmingham.