CHRISTOPHER BENTON SHOCKS CONWY WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SECRET FILMING OF WOMAN IN HER BED
A disturbing case has emerged involving Christopher Benton, a man from Conwy, who committed a serious sexual assault against a woman in her own home and secretly recorded her without her knowledge.The incident has left the victim deeply traumatized, describing her feelings as if she is "living a sentence for something I didn’t do," highlighting the profound emotional impact of the crime.
On November 6, at Caernarfon Crown Court, which was sitting at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, Benton, aged 31 and residing on Conway Road, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
He had previously pleaded guilty to charges of voyeurism and assault by penetration, and the court ordered that he serve two-thirds of his sentence behind bars before being eligible for release on licence.
The prosecution, led by Simon Rogers, detailed the events of April 14, 2022.
According to the evidence, the victim awoke around 4 a.m.
to find Benton engaging in sexual touching.
After the assault, Benton left the scene, leaving the woman in a state of shock and confusion.
She described feeling "dazed" and later took steps to clean herself by stripping the bed and washing her body.
The emotional toll was evident as she confided in her friends about the incident, who advised her to contact the police.
Later that day, the woman reported the assault to law enforcement.
During police questioning, she confirmed that Benton believed she was not awake at the time of the assault.
Benton was subsequently arrested at his workplace on April 15.
During his initial police interview, he answered some questions but chose to remain silent on others.
His mobile phone was seized and analyzed, revealing four videos in which Benton had secretly filmed the woman as she attempted to get dressed.
These videos focused on her genitals, and she was unaware that she was being recorded in all four instances.
Further forensic evidence linked Benton to the crime when his DNA was recovered from swabs taken from the victim.
During a subsequent police interview on May 22, Benton again answered no comment to all questions posed to him.
The victim’s impact statement was read aloud in court, revealing the devastating effect the assault has had on her life.
She expressed that she is no longer the cheerful, social person she once was, feeling drained and exhausted by the trauma.
She described her life as having taken a significant hit, feeling confused, hurt, and unable to recognize herself in the mirror.
The emotional scars have left her questioning her future, with feelings of darkness and despair overwhelming her at times.
She questioned whether she would ever regain her sense of self and move past the trauma.
In her defense, lawyer Simon Killeen acknowledged that Benton, who had no prior convictions, recognized the gravity of his actions.
He emphasized that imprisonment was necessary but urged the court to consider Benton’s guilty pleas, suggesting that he might not be well-equipped to cope with incarceration.
Killeen also noted that Benton lost his job immediately after the offences came to light, which added to his difficulties.
Judge Nicola Jones sentenced Benton to four and a half years in prison and imposed an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim from any further contact.
Additionally, Benton will be required to register as a sex offender for life, adhering to the notification requirements mandated by law.
The case underscores the serious consequences of such violations and the lasting impact on victims, especially when crimes involve covert filming and sexual assault within the safety of their own homes.
