MICHAEL BENNETT SENTENCED IN ST AUSTELL FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX CRIMES

In a case that has shocked the community of St Austell and the surrounding areas, Michael Bennett, aged 68, of Fore Street in Tywardreath, has been handed a severe prison sentence of 21 years following his conviction on multiple counts of child sexual abuse. The sentencing took place at Truro Crown Court, where the court heard harrowing details of Bennett’s crimes against two young girls, spanning over two decades.

According to court records, Bennett was found guilty after two separate trials of committing three sexual assaults involving penetration, two attempted rapes, one full rape, and two indecent assaults. The court was presented with a disturbing timeline of events, including allegations that date back nearly 30 years, involving the first victim who was under ten years old at the time of the abuse.

The victim, now in her thirties, provided a detailed account of four specific incidents where Bennett sexually abused her. She explained that she was unaware at the time that his actions were wrong, simply feeling that they were not right. She recounted how Bennett would lift her top, pull down her trousers, and then place his penis near her shoulder and face. She also described an incident where Bennett took a Polaroid photograph of them together during one of these assaults.

Further disturbing details emerged during the trial, including an occasion when Bennett showed her a pornographic video and another when he put his penis in her mouth. The victim recalled that her father was nearby during one of these incidents, and Bennett quickly zipped up his trousers when he saw her father approaching, indicating an attempt to conceal his actions.

The most severe of the allegations involved Bennett raping the girl while she was naked, performing oral sex on her, and then engaging in sexual intercourse. Bennett reportedly warned her that if she told anyone, she would be taken away from her parents and locked up. It was only in 2016 that she finally reported these crimes to the police.

In an unusual move during the trial, the prosecution called a witness who claimed to have been raped and sexually assaulted by Bennett when she was under ten years old in the late 1980s. Although Bennett was acquitted of these charges in 1998, the court allowed the details of these allegations to be shared as part of a bad character application, which was granted by Judge Robert Linford.

The court also heard from the victim’s father, who testified that he once found his daughter with Bennett during a search. The girl’s mother recounted an incident where she returned from a weekend in Tywardreath and noticed her daughter was sore in the genital area. Bennett gave evidence in his defense, admitting that he knew the girl and had spent time with her but denied any sexual misconduct, claiming that the allegations were fabricated.

Judge Linford sentenced Bennett for the crimes committed against the first victim, which included counts of rape, two indecent assaults, two attempted rapes, and three sexual assaults involving penetration. These crimes, particularly those in the earlier trial, were committed in the St Austell area between 2009 and 2013, further adding to the community’s distress over the case.