STUART BENNETT'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN BARNSTAPLE: WEBCAM FLASHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In June 2016, a disturbing case unfolded involving Stuart Bennett, a 29-year-old man from Barnstaple, who was convicted of heinous crimes related to the exploitation of a young girl. Bennett, residing at Parkers Hollow, Roundswell, Barnstaple, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses that included exposing himself to a 12-year-old girl via webcam, engaging in sexual conversations, and possessing indecent images of children.

The incident began when Bennett initiated contact with the young girl through an instant messaging service. Under the false alias of John Bishop and claiming to be 21 years old, he struck up a conversation with her shortly after she returned home from school. During their exchanges, Bennett expressed admiration for her school uniform, stating that she would look better without it, and complimented her appearance, which she found flattering. The girl, who was only 12 at the time, was unaware of his true age and intentions.

Three days after their initial contact, Bennett continued his inappropriate communication by moving the conversation to a webcam chat. During this second encounter, he again exposed himself to her, prompting her to tell him to stop. In an attempt to deter him, she falsely claimed that her mother was a police officer. Bennett, however, pleaded with her not to report him, citing that he suffered from panic attacks. Despite her pleas, Bennett persisted in his misconduct, asking her to show her breasts and making inappropriate comments, including the infamous remark, ‘age is just a number.’

The young girl, distressed by the experience, took a screenshot of their chat, which included Bennett’s request for her to flash. She was so upset by the incident that she later confided in a teacher three days afterward, and her emotional distress was severe enough to require counseling. Her account of the events highlighted the disturbing nature of Bennett’s actions and the impact they had on her.

Authorities swiftly traced Bennett through his IP address, which led to the discovery of images of young girls on his computer, along with searches related to child exploitation. The police investigation uncovered evidence of Bennett’s possession of indecent images of children, as well as his involvement in distributing such material.

At Exeter Crown Court, Bennett pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one count of distributing indecent images, and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. The prosecution, led by Mr. Joss Ticehurst, detailed the extent of Bennett’s misconduct, emphasizing the serious nature of his offenses involving a vulnerable 12-year-old girl.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, sentenced Bennett to 20 months in prison. Additionally, Bennett was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order. This order restricts his access to minors and limits his use of the internet to prevent further offenses.

The judge underscored the gravity of Bennett’s crimes, noting that he was fully aware of the girl’s age during their interactions. He condemned Bennett’s repeated misconduct, especially the fact that he engaged in similar behavior on multiple occasions, which compounded the harm caused to the young victim. The judge remarked, “Having done it once, this conduct was further aggravated a few days later when essentially you did the same thing again. What you did had a very real effect on her and she understandably required counseling because of it. It has had an untold effect on her.”