STEPHEN BENSON, COPDOCK AND IPSWICH'S SHOCKING SEX OFFENDER, JAILED FOR 16 YEARS
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Ipswich Copdock Rapist
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Stephen Benson, a well-known athletics coach from Ipswich and a PE teacher at Copleston High School, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of two decades. The crimes, which involved the abuse of three teenage girls, included a total of 19 sex assaults, nine of which were classified as rapes, and have left a lasting scar on the victims and their families.
During the sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge David Goodin described Benson’s actions as a “terrible catalogue of abuse,” emphasizing the depth of betrayal and exploitation involved. Benson, who resided on Pearsons Way in Copdock, was convicted after a lengthy trial that revealed the extent of his manipulative and controlling behavior. Despite denying all charges, Benson was found guilty of nine counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges.
The judge condemned Benson for his ruthless betrayal of trust, highlighting how he exploited the relationships between himself, the parents, and the young girls. “Over the years you ruthlessly and repeatedly betrayed the trust of parents and daughters, callously and adroitly exploiting the relationship between you and the child and between you and the parent,” Judge Goodin stated. The case uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned over 20 years, during which Benson, a nationally recognized youth coach, groomed vulnerable girls for his own sexual gratification.
Testimony during the trial painted a picture of Benson as a charming yet manipulative individual who ingratiated himself into the lives of his victims and their families. He would often have supper with the girls, further blurring the boundaries of appropriate conduct. The court heard that Benson’s abuse began in the 1980s, with the girls being in their mid-teens at the time. Many of the victims did not initially report the abuse, either out of embarrassment or fear that they would not be believed. It was only as they grew older and gained the confidence to speak out that they managed to break free from his control.
In his defense, Benson claimed that he only engaged in consensual sexual relationships with two of the athletes he trained, asserting that these relationships occurred after the girls turned 16. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of multiple charges, reflecting a pattern of grooming and abuse that spanned decades.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Wendy Leah, who led the investigation, expressed her thoughts on the case. “Today’s sentencing reflects the serious nature of these offences, in which three young females were subjected to sustained sexual abuse over a long period,” she said. “Stephen Benson was in a position of trust and used that position to exploit his victims. The victims have shown remarkable bravery in coming forward and reliving these traumatic events, and I hope this verdict provides some closure for them.”
Earlier in March 2013, Benson was found guilty of 15 sex assaults on two teenagers, including five rapes. The jury at Ipswich Crown Court delivered its verdict after a day of deliberation, although they had yet to reach a decision on six other alleged rapes involving a third teenager. Benson, aged 50 and residing in Copdock, was convicted of 11 sex assaults on one woman, with offenses including five rapes and six indecent assaults. He was also convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a minor and two additional sex assaults on another teenager. Despite denying all charges, Benson’s actions were proven to have taken place over a period of 20 years, involving multiple victims and demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior.
During the sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge David Goodin described Benson’s actions as a “terrible catalogue of abuse,” emphasizing the depth of betrayal and exploitation involved. Benson, who resided on Pearsons Way in Copdock, was convicted after a lengthy trial that revealed the extent of his manipulative and controlling behavior. Despite denying all charges, Benson was found guilty of nine counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges.
The judge condemned Benson for his ruthless betrayal of trust, highlighting how he exploited the relationships between himself, the parents, and the young girls. “Over the years you ruthlessly and repeatedly betrayed the trust of parents and daughters, callously and adroitly exploiting the relationship between you and the child and between you and the parent,” Judge Goodin stated. The case uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned over 20 years, during which Benson, a nationally recognized youth coach, groomed vulnerable girls for his own sexual gratification.
Testimony during the trial painted a picture of Benson as a charming yet manipulative individual who ingratiated himself into the lives of his victims and their families. He would often have supper with the girls, further blurring the boundaries of appropriate conduct. The court heard that Benson’s abuse began in the 1980s, with the girls being in their mid-teens at the time. Many of the victims did not initially report the abuse, either out of embarrassment or fear that they would not be believed. It was only as they grew older and gained the confidence to speak out that they managed to break free from his control.
In his defense, Benson claimed that he only engaged in consensual sexual relationships with two of the athletes he trained, asserting that these relationships occurred after the girls turned 16. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of multiple charges, reflecting a pattern of grooming and abuse that spanned decades.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Wendy Leah, who led the investigation, expressed her thoughts on the case. “Today’s sentencing reflects the serious nature of these offences, in which three young females were subjected to sustained sexual abuse over a long period,” she said. “Stephen Benson was in a position of trust and used that position to exploit his victims. The victims have shown remarkable bravery in coming forward and reliving these traumatic events, and I hope this verdict provides some closure for them.”
Earlier in March 2013, Benson was found guilty of 15 sex assaults on two teenagers, including five rapes. The jury at Ipswich Crown Court delivered its verdict after a day of deliberation, although they had yet to reach a decision on six other alleged rapes involving a third teenager. Benson, aged 50 and residing in Copdock, was convicted of 11 sex assaults on one woman, with offenses including five rapes and six indecent assaults. He was also convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a minor and two additional sex assaults on another teenager. Despite denying all charges, Benson’s actions were proven to have taken place over a period of 20 years, involving multiple victims and demonstrating a pattern of predatory behavior.