KEVIN BENHAM FROM WESTWARD HO! JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER CHILDREN KICK BALL INTO HIS GARDEN IN BARNSTAPLE

In March 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in Barnstaple involving Kevin Benham, a well-known local businessman from Westward Ho!, who was later convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl. The events began when two children, a girl and her friend, were playing near Benham's former residence. During their play, they accidentally kicked a ball into his garden, prompting Benham to re-engage with them.

According to reports, Benham invited the children into his home after they returned the ball. He offered them sweets and proceeded to show them around his house, including a room he referred to as his 'princess bedroom.' This room was decorated with a pink toybox, a four-poster bed, and a collection of teddy bears, which appeared to be part of his efforts to create a welcoming environment for his grandchildren, as he claimed during the trial.

As the children played inside, they began throwing teddy bears at each other. During this playful activity, Benham engaged in a disturbing playfight, during which he took two of the cuddly toys and started to tickle the children. It was during this incident that he allegedly put his hand inside the shorts of one of the girls, an act that led to serious criminal charges.

The girl later testified that Benham had also touched her over her underwear and had tickled her before placing his hand inside her shorts. Her friend corroborated that Benham had tickled both girls and had been observed touching the girl’s bottom. These allegations formed the basis of the criminal case against him.

Kevin Benham, aged 59 and residing on Cornborough Road in Westward Ho!, denied all allegations of sexual assault. He insisted that he had decorated the princess room for his six grandchildren and that the sweets in his house were there because it was close to Halloween in 2015. He claimed that any contact with the girls was accidental and that he had no sexual intent. He also stated that he was 'flummoxed' by the accusations and that he had not engaged in any sexual activity.

Despite his denials, a jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a three-day trial. The court sentenced him to four years in prison. Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts Benham’s future contact with children, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for life.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mercer emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “You did not seek or bring about the situation in which you found yourself that afternoon, alone at your home with your victim and her friend, but you took advantage of it. You got them upstairs and could not resist the temptation of doing what you did. Underlying this is a sexual interest in young girls which at that moment you could not resist.”

The judge further acknowledged the impact of the crime on the victim and her family, noting, “I have read the victim’s impact statement and that of her mother. It is quite apparent you caused untold damage and continuing harm to her and a continuing effect on her life. I hope she will now be able to put it behind her.”