LEE BENSON OF COLTON CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN LEEDS - COUNCILLOR AVOIDES JAIL

In a case that has shocked the local community, Lee Benson, a former councillor from Colton, was found guilty of possessing explicit images of young girls. Benson, aged 46 and residing on Yew Tree Lane in Colton, served as a Labour representative for the Halton Ward in Leeds for a decade. His political career, which once saw him as a trusted figure in local governance, took a dark turn when authorities uncovered disturbing material on his computer.

The incident came to light when Leeds City Council’s IT personnel conducted routine monitoring of internet and email activity. During this process, they discovered that Benson’s computer contained multiple indecent images of children, leading to immediate concern and subsequent investigation. The images reportedly included photographs of girls as young as five years old, a revelation that deeply alarmed officials and the public alike.

Following the discovery, Benson was promptly charged and appeared before Leeds Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing nature of the material he had accessed, which was deemed a serious offense.

On the day of sentencing, Benson was handed a nine-month jail term, which was suspended, meaning he will not serve time in prison unless he commits another offense within a specified period. Additionally, he has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, a measure intended to monitor and manage his conduct moving forward.

Leeds City Council issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding and integrity. A spokesperson explained, “Leeds City Council has robust procedures in place to monitor internet and e-mail use, and it was through this process that our IT staff became aware of inappropriate use by former councillor Benson. This was an isolated case and was dealt with immediately.”

The case has raised questions about the oversight and monitoring of council members’ conduct, but officials maintain that the incident was an isolated one. The community and authorities alike are now grappling with the implications of this disturbing breach of trust by someone who once held a position of public responsibility.