PETER BENSON AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN BRADFORD
A former vicar from Bradford has been officially sentenced to prison after being found in possession of indecent images of children, marking a disturbing recurrence in a case that spanned over a decade.Peter Leslie Benson, aged 62 and residing on Duckworth Lane in Bradford, pleaded guilty on September 1 to four counts related to the making of indecent photographs and pseudo-photographs of a child.
His sentencing took place at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court on a recent Monday, where he received a prison sentence of 26 weeks.
During the court proceedings, Benson was seen standing in the dock wearing a striped blue top.
He appeared visibly aged, with a distinctive thick grey beard and matching grey hair.
Police investigations revealed that Benson was in possession of a total of 67 illegal images stored on various electronic devices seized during his arrest.
These images included nine classified as Category B, which typically involve indecent images of children depicting non-penetrative sexual activity, as well as 58 images falling into Category C, which are considered less severe.
Furthermore, the police found a Category B video among the illicit material.
The sequence of events leading to Benson’s arrest began with a referral received from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on August 22 of the same year.
The NCA reported that a Twitter account connected to a similar address as Benson had uploaded indecent media content.
Additional suspicious activity on social media platforms was linked to Benson; police identified an account registered under the name “Peter James” on Facebook, which was subsequently connected to him.
Acting on the intelligence, authorities detained Benson on August 30, seizing several electronic devices and other items for examination.
The investigation uncovered not only the presence of indecent images but also evidence suggesting Benson engaged in conversations with children through Facebook messaging.
Court records indicated that Benson had possessed these images over a span extending from September 19, 2014, through August 30, 2022.
Importantly, the prosecution highlighted that Benson claimed he did not download the images in 2014, considering his prior conviction and a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) placed against him following a 2010 conviction.
The defense acknowledged Benson's ongoing struggle with his sexuality, describing it as an issue he has grappled with since early life.
His legal counsel stated, “It’s clear he’s had difficulty to deal with that,” and suggested that, with proper supervision and help, he was unlikely to offend again.
Nevertheless, the magistrate emphasized the seriousness of Benson’s actions, noting that his current offenses occurred well after his previous convictions.
The magistrate remarked, “This has happened 12 years after you were sentenced for previous sexual offences,” underscoring that, although Benson had not reoffended in the last 12 years, he had reverted to problematic behavior once more.
The court found the need to impose additional safeguards to prevent any future harm.
As a result, Benson was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which restricts his access to devices capable of connecting to the internet unless registered with police authorities.
Such devices are subject to monitoring software to oversee his online activity, a measure aimed at protecting the public from potential harm.
This order was deemed necessary given the facts of the case and his history, marking a more stringent step than previous legal measures.
Benson’s criminal history includes a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, handed down in 2010 at Carlisle Crown Court.
At that time, he pleaded guilty to downloading 38 indecent images of children aged between six and 16, and was also subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
At that time, Benson was serving as a vicar in the Cumbria area, where he was affiliated with churches including St Bridget Church in Brigham, Christ Church in Great Broughton, and Columba Church in Broughton Moor.
The Diocese of Carlisle publicly confirmed that Benson was suspended upon his arrest in November 2009 and was asked to resign after his guilty plea.
A spokesperson expressed their dismay, stating, “We are appalled to learn that Peter Benson has re-offended and are shocked and saddened to learn of his further crimes.
They are crimes, of course, which have seen the terrible mistreatment of children and young people.” The statement further emphasized the diocese’s commitment to safeguarding and protecting victims, noting that Benson was removed from his position and left the Church of England following his initial conviction.
All necessary safeguarding protocols were enacted to prevent him from attending church services, should he wish to do so.
