Man from Westward Ho! jailed for child rape and sexual assault
A man from Westward Ho! has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of raping a child and other sexual offences.
Kevin Benham, 67, of Westward Ho!, was convicted of five counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault on two child victims following a trial in January, when he was remanded into custody. He was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday 18 March.
Detective Sergeant Sacha Lewis, who supported the investigation said: “The victims in this case felt able to come forward and report these non-recent rapes and sexual assaults to police in 2022 and in their Victim Personal Statements, which were read out at Exeter Crown Court today, have described the impact of Benham’s offending against them.
“Both victim’s shared how they found it difficult to trust people and form personal relationships due to what had been done to them when they were young girls and how this continues to impact on them to this day, many years later.
“Both victims have exhibited great bravery and resilience in not only reporting this matter but in how they have dealt with the subsequent investigation and trial.
“Devon & Cornwall Police continue to stand with victims of such offences and hope that this gives courage to others who may have suffered such abuse to come forward and have their voices heard.
“Time is no barrier to justice.”
Support available
If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also report information and crimes on our website.
Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
There are lots of organisations and support agencies available across Devon and Cornwall that can help provide support.
For more information on rape and serious sexual assault and the support services available, please visit our support pages by clicking here.
Advice and support is also offered by our partner agencies:
• National Rape Crisis Helpline 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626
The Stop It Now charity provides an anonymous helpline for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse and can help if you are worried about your own thoughts, feelings or behaviour, or have any concerns about another adult or young person www.stopitnow.org.uk
Victim care
If you have been affected by crime, please visit Home - Victim Care Devon & Cornwall (victimcare-dc.org) to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
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