HELMSTON PAEDOPHILE DANIEL BENTON SENTENCED FOR SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN TRURO

In November 2020, a deeply disturbing case involving Daniel Benton, a resident of Coronation Place in Helston, came to light through a court hearing at Truro Crown Court. Benton, aged 34, faced a series of serious charges related to the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors, which revealed a pattern of heinous behavior spanning several years.

During the proceedings, it was disclosed that Benton had engaged in multiple criminal acts, including two counts of sexual assault against a young girl, as well as causing a child to observe and participate in sexual acts. Specifically, Benton had sexually touched a girl younger than 10, an incident that reportedly took place at a funeral, adding a layer of grotesqueness to his crimes. His actions extended beyond physical contact, as he also showed her pornography and coerced her into touching his erect penis by placing her hand in his pocket.

Further investigations uncovered that Benton had paid a Filipino mother £40 to film her young daughter, approximately 10 years old, in the shower. This footage was then sent to him over the internet, illustrating the extent of his depravity and willingness to pay for such exploitative material. The court also learned that Benton had directed two teenagers to engage in sexual activity over the internet, demonstrating a disturbing pattern of manipulation and abuse involving minors.

In addition to these acts, Benton possessed a significant collection of indecent images of children. The authorities found that he had accessed a total of 65 Category A images, which are classified as the most severe, along with 71 Category B images and a staggering 515 Category C images. These images depicted children as young as two or three years old being penetrated, highlighting the severity and depravity of his collection.

Judge Robert Linford, presiding over the case, addressed the court and the victims during sentencing. He expressed profound condemnation of Benton’s actions, emphasizing the devastating impact on the victims. The judge remarked that Benton’s behavior had effectively robbed a young girl of her childhood and innocence. He also highlighted the shocking nature of the indecent images, which included the exploitation of very young children.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Linford noted that Benton had sent images of the young girl to another paedophile over the internet, a revelation that he described as an “indigestible bombshell” for the girl’s family. The judge described Benton as “an ingrained paedophile,” condemning his long-standing pattern of sexual offending against children.

Ultimately, Benton was sentenced to a prison term of seven years and eight months, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for justice for his victims. The case underscores the ongoing fight against child exploitation and the importance of holding offenders accountable for their heinous actions.