In 2017, the Offender Database recorded that Ben Inwood, then 32, was sentenced to three years in prison for conducting a secret sexual affair with a 15-year-old girl. On appearing at Leeds Crown Court in November 2019, the defendant—formerly of Leeds and latterly of Bardrochat View, South Ayrshire, Scotland—pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child. It was reported that the “persistent” offending was only halted when Inwood’s long-term partner discovered sexual messages on his mobile phone and contacted the authorities.
The investigation established that the abuse occurred between January and November 2017. West Yorkshire Police reported that when confronted by his partner, Inwood deliberately damaged his mobile phone in a bid to destroy evidence of the relationship. The prosecution reported that despite the damage, officers recovered sexual text messages and an image of the teenager in her underwear. The investigation established that Inwood later handed himself in and admitted to having sex with the girl on multiple occasions at his home in West Yorkshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Inwood’s claim of “work stress” from farming 100 hours a week did not excuse the predatory nature of his conduct. Leeds Crown Court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions and had moved his family to Scotland prior to sentencing. The investigation established that the girl also admitted to the ongoing sexual relationship, which the judge noted the court had a duty to protect her from, even if she had been a willing participant at the time.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC stated that the reality was that Inwood did not cease his behaviour of his own volition. For his actions in Leeds, Inwood was handed a three-year custodial sentence. The judge noted that the destruction of the phone was a clear attempt to evade discovery and that the “persistent course of conduct” over many months necessitated an immediate prison term to satisfy the court’s public duty.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Ben Inwood is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 3 years (Sentenced November 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated following conviction.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Leeds Crown Court following a West Yorkshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual activity with a child (2 counts).
- Incident Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire.
- Origin: Bardrochat View, South Ayrshire, Scotland (Formerly Leeds).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Inwood was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the South Ayrshire and West Yorkshire areas. Due to the nature of his conduct in Leeds, which involved the grooming and sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl, his management was a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his relocation to Scotland required a transfer of monitoring responsibilities to ensure his compliance with the Sex Offenders Register and to protect children in his new community.
As a registered sex offender, Inwood’s details were logged on the national police database to ensure his digital activities and residence were subject to oversight. Authorities state that his history of “destroying evidence” in West Yorkshire requires vigilance by offender management teams to ensure he does not attempt to hide future illicit communications. Any failure to comply with notification requirements or further contact with minors would result in immediate legal action to uphold the safety of the public.
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