In October 2026, a 41-year-old man was made subject to an indefinite hospital order at Preston Crown Court after admitting to sexually assaulting a teenager and a young child inside a retail premises in Barrow.
Benjamin Scowcroft, of no fixed address, appeared for sentencing on Monday 26 October 2026 after entering guilty pleas to two sexual offences.
The Crown outlined that Scowcroft targeted two young victims during consecutive visits to a shop in Barrow-in-Furness. On 3 February 2024, Scowcroft entered the retail outlet and sexually assaulted a teenage girl. On the following day, 4 February 2024, he re-entered the same premises and committed an assault by touching against a second female victim aged under 13.
Cumbria Constabulary launched a criminal investigation to trace the attacker. Following Scowcroft’s arrest, officers recovered physical evidence connecting him directly to the crime scene, including a shop receipt that established his presence within the premises on 4 February 2024.
Scowcroft initially denied the allegations during police interviews, but later formally admitted his criminality before the court, pleading guilty to:
One count of sexual assault
One count of sexual assault by touching of a girl under 13
Detective Constable Alex Brown, who investigated the case, commented:
“Such offending is taken extremely seriously and investigated thoroughly and professionally.
“I would urge anyone who has been subject to offences of this nature to come forward.
“Cumbria police are committed to holding such perpetrators accountable and bringing them before the courts.”
Passing sentence, the Crown Court judge ordered that Scowcroft be detained under an indefinite hospital order under the provisions of the Mental Health Act.
The court further imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order against Scowcroft, active until 2033, to protect the public from future risk of sexual harm. He was also made subject to mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of seven years.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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