PETER BENNETT AND HIS SHOCKING CRIMES IN WINCHESTER AND SOMERFORD

A notorious sex offender from the Winchester area has tragically passed away, just four months after being incarcerated for his previous crimes. Peter Bennett, aged 80, was detained at Winchester Prison when he fell seriously ill. He was subsequently transferred to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, where he died on March 15th. The circumstances surrounding his death were discussed at an inquest held by Hampshire Coroners Court, which revealed that the cause of death was attributed to sepsis, cellulitis, and prostate cancer.

The inquest was adjourned, with a full hearing scheduled for August 3rd to further examine the details of Bennett’s death. As reported by the A&T, Bennett, a resident of Edward Road, was sentenced to a prison term of five years and ten months in early December of the previous year. His sentence was handed down at Bournemouth Crown Court by Judge Alastair Malcolm, who did not hold back in his remarks, describing Bennett as an 'adept groomer.'

Judge Malcolm’s decision to jail Bennett was based on the extensive history of sexual offences that stretched back over five decades. Despite being aware of Bennett's ongoing health issues, including cancer, the judge emphasized that Bennett’s lengthy record and previous orders requiring him to sign the sex offenders register for life justified the harsh sentence.

One of Bennett’s most recent and disturbing offences involved online conversations with an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. During these chats, he encouraged the girl to engage in sexual activity with her pet dog and a horse. Bennett was unaware that he was actually speaking with a paedophile hunter affiliated with the vigilante group Stop. This group, in collaboration with another vigilante organization, confronted Bennett at his home, and the incident was recorded. The video footage of this confrontation was subsequently posted on Facebook, where it garnered over 100,000 views.

Following his arrest, police investigations uncovered extreme pornography on Bennett’s electronic devices. He was subsequently charged with multiple serious offences, including attempting to incite or cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activities, attempting to communicate with a minor using sexualised language, and possessing extreme pornography. Bennett pleaded guilty to all charges during his court appearance before Judge Malcolm.

The prosecutor, Sadie Rizzo, outlined Bennett’s long history of offending. His criminal actions reportedly began in 1963 when he indecently assaulted a female under the age of 14, leading to his initial imprisonment. Eight years later, he reoffended by abusing a female under 16 and was found in possession of obscene materials, although he received only a suspended sentence at that time.

Ms. Rizzo highlighted that Bennett’s most serious offence prior to the recent case involved an incident in 1972. During this offence, Bennett allegedly abducted an 18-year-old woman, drove her to a secluded area, and engaged in sexual acts with her. This assault resulted in another imprisonment. Throughout his life, Bennett accumulated convictions for indecent exposure in 1969 and again in the 1980s. In 2006, he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court after being found to have created and distributed over 340 indecent images of children, 68 of which were considered to be of the most serious category.

Judge Malcolm emphasized the gravity of Bennett’s repeated sexual offences, especially noting that they targeted underage children over multiple decades. He stated that Bennett had been a continuous threat to children since the 1960s and had targeted minors consistently through the years. The judge commented explicitly on Bennett’s grooming behaviour, referencing the recent incident involving the supposed 12-year-old girl and his attempts to induce her to commit acts of bestiality.

Judge Malcolm concluded by describing Bennett as a highly skilled groomer, acknowledging the danger he posed to young children and highlighting the seriousness of his lengthy criminal history.