PHILLIP BENTHAM SOUTHPORT CHURCH ELDER JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST BOYS
| Red Rose Database
Southport Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2005, a serious case of sexual misconduct involving Phillip Bentham, a church elder and youth club leader from Southport, came to light, resulting in his imprisonment for a period of 18 months. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Bentham’s abuse of trust and his predatory behavior towards two 15-year-old boys who were members of the youth organization he led.
Judge Henry Globe, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of Bentham’s actions. He stated that Bentham’s misconduct was a clear breach of the trust placed in him due to his prominent role within the Church of God, an organization with locations across the country, including the premises on Fylde Road, Southport, where Bentham was based. The judge made it clear that Bentham’s offenses were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior.
As Bentham, aged 40, was led away to the cells following his sentencing, a father of one of the victims shouted out “pervert” at him. Meanwhile, Bentham’s wife, who was present in the public gallery, mouthed the words “I love you” to her husband, a gesture that drew attention amidst the serious proceedings.
The court heard that Bentham, who was married and had a young child, held a position of authority within the church community. The two boys involved in the case had been active members of the church’s youth club, with Bentham serving as a leader. Prosecutor Miss Deborah Gould outlined the timeline of Bentham’s misconduct, revealing that in 1997, he engaged in an inappropriate conversation with one of the boys, then only 12 years old, while they were in his car. However, the more serious offenses occurred later, in April 2001, when Bentham indecently assaulted the same boy after inviting him to his home to help set up an email account on his computer.
According to Miss Gould, upon arriving at Bentham’s residence, the two went to his office, where the curtains were drawn, and initially, their interaction appeared innocent. However, the situation took a darker turn when Bentham accessed adult pornography on the internet and then moved the boy’s chair closer to him, committing an indecent assault. The court was told that Bentham admitted to engaging in similar conduct on at least two other occasions at his home, although the boy initially kept silent out of fear of not being believed.
The victim eventually confided in a youth worker just before his 16th birthday. When questioned, Bentham denied the allegations. It was only after the boy disclosed the abuse to his girlfriend last year that he decided to report the matter to the police. The second victim, who also frequented Bentham’s home to use his computer, recounted that Bentham would sometimes touch his leg, making him uncomfortable. On October 15, 2000, during a youth club meeting, Bentham told the boy he needed to go home to retrieve something and offered him sweets to accompany him. Once at Bentham’s house, the boy was subjected to repeated suggestions of indecent behavior, which he refused, leading Bentham to eventually abandon the attempt and return him to the youth club.
Details of this incident were also brought to the attention of the same youth worker, who confronted Bentham again. The elder denied any wrongdoing. During police interviews, Bentham denied the specific offenses but admitted to having had a sexual relationship with the first boy, claiming it occurred after the boy turned 16. The court heard that Bentham had told a probation officer that the sexual activity had created a “buzz of excitement” followed by feelings of guilt and shame.
Phillip Bentham, of Rawlinson Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on the first boy between July 2000 and July 2001, as well as inciting the second boy to commit an act of gross indecency. He denied four other charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with the first boy, with verdicts of not guilty recorded on two of those charges, and the remaining charges ordered to be kept on file.
Defense lawyer Simon Killeen highlighted that Bentham, who had no prior convictions, had already suffered significant consequences, including the loss of his good character and being ex-communicated from his church. Killeen pointed out that many former friends had distanced themselves from Bentham, describing this social ostracism as a substantial punishment in itself. The case also revealed that the first victim had sent emails to friends, family members of Bentham and his wife, and colleagues at her workplace, detailing the case and warning that Bentham posed a threat to young children.
Following the sentencing, the father of the second boy expressed relief, stating, “I’m pleased he got a custodial sentence. This will help my son put it behind him and to get on with his life.” The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of Bentham’s offenses and the impact on the victims, highlighting the importance of justice in cases involving abuse of trust within community institutions.
Judge Henry Globe, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of Bentham’s actions. He stated that Bentham’s misconduct was a clear breach of the trust placed in him due to his prominent role within the Church of God, an organization with locations across the country, including the premises on Fylde Road, Southport, where Bentham was based. The judge made it clear that Bentham’s offenses were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior.
As Bentham, aged 40, was led away to the cells following his sentencing, a father of one of the victims shouted out “pervert” at him. Meanwhile, Bentham’s wife, who was present in the public gallery, mouthed the words “I love you” to her husband, a gesture that drew attention amidst the serious proceedings.
The court heard that Bentham, who was married and had a young child, held a position of authority within the church community. The two boys involved in the case had been active members of the church’s youth club, with Bentham serving as a leader. Prosecutor Miss Deborah Gould outlined the timeline of Bentham’s misconduct, revealing that in 1997, he engaged in an inappropriate conversation with one of the boys, then only 12 years old, while they were in his car. However, the more serious offenses occurred later, in April 2001, when Bentham indecently assaulted the same boy after inviting him to his home to help set up an email account on his computer.
According to Miss Gould, upon arriving at Bentham’s residence, the two went to his office, where the curtains were drawn, and initially, their interaction appeared innocent. However, the situation took a darker turn when Bentham accessed adult pornography on the internet and then moved the boy’s chair closer to him, committing an indecent assault. The court was told that Bentham admitted to engaging in similar conduct on at least two other occasions at his home, although the boy initially kept silent out of fear of not being believed.
The victim eventually confided in a youth worker just before his 16th birthday. When questioned, Bentham denied the allegations. It was only after the boy disclosed the abuse to his girlfriend last year that he decided to report the matter to the police. The second victim, who also frequented Bentham’s home to use his computer, recounted that Bentham would sometimes touch his leg, making him uncomfortable. On October 15, 2000, during a youth club meeting, Bentham told the boy he needed to go home to retrieve something and offered him sweets to accompany him. Once at Bentham’s house, the boy was subjected to repeated suggestions of indecent behavior, which he refused, leading Bentham to eventually abandon the attempt and return him to the youth club.
Details of this incident were also brought to the attention of the same youth worker, who confronted Bentham again. The elder denied any wrongdoing. During police interviews, Bentham denied the specific offenses but admitted to having had a sexual relationship with the first boy, claiming it occurred after the boy turned 16. The court heard that Bentham had told a probation officer that the sexual activity had created a “buzz of excitement” followed by feelings of guilt and shame.
Phillip Bentham, of Rawlinson Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on the first boy between July 2000 and July 2001, as well as inciting the second boy to commit an act of gross indecency. He denied four other charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with the first boy, with verdicts of not guilty recorded on two of those charges, and the remaining charges ordered to be kept on file.
Defense lawyer Simon Killeen highlighted that Bentham, who had no prior convictions, had already suffered significant consequences, including the loss of his good character and being ex-communicated from his church. Killeen pointed out that many former friends had distanced themselves from Bentham, describing this social ostracism as a substantial punishment in itself. The case also revealed that the first victim had sent emails to friends, family members of Bentham and his wife, and colleagues at her workplace, detailing the case and warning that Bentham posed a threat to young children.
Following the sentencing, the father of the second boy expressed relief, stating, “I’m pleased he got a custodial sentence. This will help my son put it behind him and to get on with his life.” The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of Bentham’s offenses and the impact on the victims, highlighting the importance of justice in cases involving abuse of trust within community institutions.