In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Peter Bennett, then 80, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison for grooming a child and possessing extreme pornography. On appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court, the defendant—of Edward Road, Somerford, Dorset—was described by the judge as an “adept groomer” with a history of sexual offences against children spanning more than five decades. It was reported that Bennett believed he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl, whom he encouraged to engage in sexual acts with a dog and a horse.
The investigation established that Bennett’s online conversations, which ran to over 200 A4 pages, were initiated by a member of a paedophile hunter group. Dorset Police reported that despite Bennett warning the profile about the dangers of speaking to people online, he quickly turned the chat toward innuendo and bestiality. The prosecution reported that Bennett claimed such behaviour was normal and offered to send photographs of sexual activity with animals. Upon his arrest, police discovered 156 images of extreme animal pornography on his electronic devices.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Bennett’s offending began in 1963 with an indecent assault on a girl under 14. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that he had been imprisoned multiple times over the decades, including for a 1972 incident where he abducted an 18-year-old and for a 2006 conviction involving over 340 indecent images of children. The investigation established that Bennett was already on the Sex Offenders Register for life at the time of these latest offences.
Judge Alastair Malcolm dismissed suggestions that Bennett’s age or cancer diagnosis should spare him from custody, stating he remained a “danger to children.” For his actions in Dorset, Bennett pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate with a child in sexualised terms, and possessing extreme pornography. The judge noted that the defendant gained sexual gratification by grooming whom he believed was a vulnerable minor.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Peter Bennett as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 5 years and 10 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court following a Dorset Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Inciting a child under 13; Sexual communication with a child; Possession of extreme pornography.
- Origin: Edward Road, Somerford, Dorset.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bennett is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) as a high-risk repeat offender. Due to the nature of his conduct in Somerford, which involved a sophisticated “decade by decade” pattern of targeting children, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) provides the legal framework to monitor his internet use and prohibit him from living with or encountering children without strict police oversight.
As a registered sex offender for life, Bennett’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his history of “adept grooming” in Dorset requires permanent vigilance by digital forensic teams to ensure he does not delete his internet history or use unmonitored devices. Any failure to comply with these restrictions upon his release from prison will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of children in the community.
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