RONALD BENNETT SHAMES ANDOVER CHILDREN'S CHARITY FOUNDER JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES

In October 2016, Ronald Bennett, the once-respected founder of the now-defunct Brave Hearts Children’s Charity Association, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of multiple historic child sexual offences. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned over several years and took place across Hampshire and East Anglia during the 1980s.

Ronald Bennett, aged 72 and residing on Launcelot Close in Andover, faced a jury at Winchester Crown Court. The jury found him guilty of five counts of historic sexual abuse, including rape, after a week-long trial. Bennett’s refusal to testify in his own defense was a notable aspect of the case. He chose not to take the witness stand, despite the opportunity, following his arrests in 2013 and 2015. Instead, his wife and son were called to provide evidence on his behalf.

The charges against Bennett included one count of rape and three counts of indecent assault involving a girl under 14, initially. During the trial, two of the indecent assault charges were amended to include victims aged up to 16, reflecting the court’s recognition of the extended age range. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, unanimously convicted Bennett on all four counts related to the first victim. Additionally, he faced two counts of gross indecency towards a second victim. The jury reached a majority verdict on one of these counts, but no verdict was returned on the other.

Throughout the proceedings, Bennett appeared in court dressed in a dark suit, and the court facilitated his hearing with the aid of a hearing loop. The evidence presented was harrowing, with testimonies from the victims—whose identities are protected by law—and witnesses for the prosecution. The court heard that Bennett’s actions had long-lasting effects on the victims and their families.

During the closing arguments, prosecutor Russell Pyne addressed Bennett’s decision not to testify, emphasizing that credibility was a key issue in the case. Pyne suggested that Bennett’s refusal to give evidence was likely due to a fear of the truth coming out, implying that he was aware that his testimony could lead to conviction. The defense, represented by Adrienne Knight, argued that the burden of proof rested with the prosecution and that the defendant was under no obligation to testify. She urged the jury to consider the unreliability of the victims’ testimonies and to avoid speculation, highlighting the difficulty of assessing claims made after decades.

Judge Susan Evans ultimately directed the jury to deliberate, and they returned their guilty verdicts the following afternoon. Bennett’s history includes establishing the Brave Hearts Children’s Charity Association in 1991, which aimed to support children in need. His efforts in fundraising earned him recognition, including being named Fundraiser of the Year at the 2007 Pride of Andover awards, where he was congratulated by Esther Rantzen.

Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Paul Harfield issued a statement condemning Bennett’s actions. He stated, “Ron Bennett preyed on young girls, targeting families when they were at their most vulnerable, paying no regard to the long-term effects on the victims or their families. He formerly enjoyed a high profile locally on the back of his charity work for disadvantaged children, but he will now have time in prison to consider the disingenuous life he has led. Hopefully this sentence will provide some closure for his victims and their families, who have all lived a very long time with the negative effects of Bennett’s actions. Society is safer now that Bennett no longer has access to vulnerable young girls.”