October 2007 Cabbie raped child passenger A TAXI driver from Highbridge has been convicted of a number of serious sex crimes against young girls he was paid to drive in his cab. Taunton Crown Court this week saw Mark Bennett, of Burnham Road, convicted by a jury of a serious of offences, including one count of rape, four of indecent assault, two of indecency with a child, two of sexual assault, and one of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a child. Ian Dixey, prosecuting, told jurors how the offences had been carried out over a 15-year period from 1991 until 2006, and had involved four girls aged from seven to 15. Mr Dixey said that none of the girls had reported being threatened – instead, Bennett used kindness and sympathy to win them over, buying them clothes and jewellery and phoning them several times a week. The prosecutor added that Bennett had inspired “genuine affection” among his victims. Indeed, one sent him love letters. Mr Dixey said: “He was sexually attracted to underage girls – a paedophile.” Bennett was eventually arrested after one girl complained, and her mother seized clothing for forensic testing. The results linked Bennett to the girl with a probability of a billion to one. Bennett himself denied all the allegations, but declined to give evidence during his trial. But one victim told the court how Bennett had first kissed her during a taxi ride in his West Somerset patch, before phoning her a number of times and arranging a meeting. They first had sex when she was just 11. Mr Dixey added: “One reason why he has not gone into the witness box is because he has no answer to it at all. “There is nothing in this case to challenge her on that (the victim’s account).” Alan Large, defending, pointed to “considerable inconsistencies” in the evidence, and said there was nothing to support the allegations of rape. He also revealed that a second complainant had admitted making up some of her claims. However, jurors found Bennett guilty