Paedo Army Cadet Leader Benjamin English Sentenced to 15 Years for Rape

A convicted sex offender who previously used his position as an Army Cadet leader to commit sexual offenses has received a substantial prison sentence. Benjamin English, formerly known as Steven Watts, was found guilty at Durham Crown Court of raping a girl in 2022. He has a long history of sexual offenses against minors, including a 2007 suspended sentence for sending suggestive texts to underage girls, some as young as 13, while in charge at a territorial army centre in County Durham. In that case, he was caught after one of the girls' fathers discovered inappropriate messages, leading to his promise of extra tuition in exchange for topless photos, and his admission to causing or inciting girls under 16 to engage in sexual activities. Later, he subjected a young girl to abuse and confessed to police, saying, “I just couldn’t stop it.” He was subsequently jailed on an indefinite basis but was released. In 2013, he was imprisoned for five years after raping a young girl five times. English changed his name by deed poll, and in 2022, after one of his previous victims struggled with her trauma, she reported being raped again. English denied the allegations but was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Safeguarding detective Constable Graeme Whitfield, who led the investigation, described English as “a predator and a danger to children,” emphasizing the devastating impact his abuse had on victims for over a decade. The court's decision underscores the serious consequences of his repeated offenses and the importance of protecting children from predators.