January 2012 Teen would not let young girl watch Hollyoaks until she performed sex acts A TEENAGER who raped a young girl has been jailed. Declan Benjamin Bentley, 18, has been locked up for three-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of rape. Bentley, of east Hull, invited the girl to his home to watch teen soap Hollyoaks because she was not allowed to watch it at home. When she entered his room he then told the child he would change the channel unless she had sex with him. Other offences took place when he asked the girl, who was aged under 13, to play computer games with him. He was caught when his grandmother walked into his room and saw him adjusting his clothing. Bentley immediately admitted what he had done, began crying and confessed to the police. Prosecutor Jharna Jobes told Hull Crown Court: “In the early evening she (the victim) had wanted to watch Hollyoaks on television but was not allowed, so she went to the defendant’s home to watch it. “Once in the bedroom, the defendant refused to put the programme on.” Bentley had told the girl she had to perform sex acts with him first. Mrs Jobes said: “He told her ‘if you tell, I’ll be in loads of trouble’.” The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, told the court it was a “difficult” sentence due to Bentley’s low mental ability. He said: “Rape is a serious offence and almost always calls for an immediate custodial sentence. Here we have a case of repeated offending against a very young victim. “This is not a case where a very long sentence is called for. It’s not necessary and nor is it appropriate. “The custodial sentence I have to impose will mean that for the rest of his life he will be deterred from behaving in this way again. “I have come to the conclusion that had there been a trial in this case resulting in conviction, a sentence of six years would have been appropriate. “From such a sentence I have to give discount for his guilty plea and there is added discount because of his early admission on the very day, his willingness to go to the police straight away and his full and frank admissions to the police.” Bentley was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.