ROBERT BENNETT'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BRIXHAM AND WILTON: ARMY MAJOR JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES

In December 2015, Robert Bennett, a former Army Major with a long and distinguished career, was sentenced to prison for multiple serious offences related to child exploitation and breaches of court orders. Bennett, who resided in Brixham and Wilton, had previously served in the military for 37 years, including deployments in Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, and Iraq. Despite his service and the respect he once commanded, his actions in recent years have cast a dark shadow over his reputation.

His latest conviction stemmed from his deliberate breaches of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and his registration on the Sex Offenders' Register (SOR). Bennett was found guilty of failing to disclose the possession of three computer hard drives and an internet dongle, which he had concealed from police monitoring him as part of his ongoing supervision. The police had previously monitored Bennett due to his history of online grooming and possession of indecent images of children, for which he had been convicted in 2009 and again in 2013.

During a police search at his home in Brixham, officers discovered four hard drives and a dongle that provided internet access, despite Bennett’s claims that he did not have Wi-Fi at home. He had used a false name, Clinch, to have one of his computers repaired and paid cash to avoid detection. Bennett’s failure to report these devices was a clear violation of the strict conditions imposed on him, and his dishonesty was viewed as a serious offence by the court.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, sentenced Bennett to 12 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his breaches. The judge stated, “The offences of failing to comply with these orders are serious and the only punishment must be an immediate prison sentence. They were clearly done to hide your ownership of the equipment. You deliberately used a false name to conceal what you were doing from the police and paid cash for the repair, presumably for the same reason. You lied to the police about having the hard drives and that is also a serious offence. You are not a stupid man and enjoyed a good career in the army. People speak very highly of you but I regret to say the seriousness of these offences means there must be custody.”

Prosecutor Mr. Ricardo Childs highlighted Bennett’s prior convictions, which included offences at Colchester and Salisbury Crown Courts. Bennett was required to inform police about any computer equipment he owned, but he failed to do so, taking one computer for repair under a false surname and hiding the hard drives and internet dongle during a police search.

His defense lawyer, Miss Emmi Wilson, argued that Bennett was highly isolated following the death of his parents and had shown remorse by pleading guilty and disclosing some of his offences. She explained that Bennett’s use of a false name was motivated by his desire to maintain privacy within his small community, especially regarding personal matters such as his father’s funeral plans.

Earlier incidents in Bennett’s criminal history include a 2013 case when he was caught engaging in online grooming with an undercover police officer posing as a 12-year-old girl. Bennett, then living in Wilton, had befriended the officer on the Belgium-based social networking site Netlog. He continued chatting with her despite being told she was only 12, and he sent links to explicit videos of sexual acts. When police arrested him, they seized multiple computers and found indecent images of children, over 300 extreme pornographic images, and software used for deleting files.

During the 2013 trial at Salisbury Crown Court, Bennett was sentenced to eight months in prison, with a ten-year order to remain on the sex offenders register and a ten-year sexual offences prevention order. Judge Douglas Field described Bennett’s actions as “classic grooming,” noting his continued interest in young girls and his denial of his sexual interests.

Bennett’s criminal record also includes a 2009 conviction for possessing child pornography while serving in Iraq. He was caught with thousands of images, including some rated as extreme, and was sentenced to two years in prison. Military authorities seized his equipment at Rheindahlen, Germany, and he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession and distribution of indecent images. His military career was effectively ended, and he was discharged from service, losing his medals and being banned from working with children.

Throughout these proceedings, Bennett’s case has been a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offences, especially those with military backgrounds who have access to sensitive environments. His actions have led to his imprisonment and a lifetime of restrictions, but questions remain about how such individuals are monitored and prevented from reoffending.