In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Benjamin Cameron, then 34, of Kingsview Terrace, Inverness, was jailed for 27 months for a “perverted” act of sexual misconduct against a disabled girl. On appearing at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentencing, it was reported that the defendant, who was acting as a babysitter, crept into the girl’s bedroom while she was asleep. The court reported that the offence occurred on 12 August 2018.
The investigation established that Cameron carried out a sex act on himself while standing close to the sleeping child. Police Scotland reported that the entire incident was captured on CCTV, which the girl’s parents had installed to monitor her due to her disability. The prosecution reported that when initially challenged, Cameron claimed he could not remember his actions because he had consumed a large amount of alcohol in Inverness.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Cameron continued to deny his actions despite being shown the video footage of the incident. Inverness Sheriff Court heard how he failed to attend initial meetings with social workers for a pre-sentencing report, claiming he was busy at work. The prosecution reported that Cameron pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a youngster by entering her bedroom and performing a sex act on himself in Inverness.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood criticized Cameron for his ongoing denial in the face of clear evidence and for his disregard of court orders. For his actions in Inverness, Cameron was sentenced to 27 months in prison, backdated to 7 May 2019. The judge noted that the custodial term was necessary to reflect the predatory nature of the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the victim.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Benjamin Cameron was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 27 months in prison (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for 10 years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Inverness Sheriff Court following a guilty plea.
- Criminal Record: Convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a youngster.
- Origin: Kingsview Terrace, Inverness.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cameron is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the National Probation Service in the Inverness area. Due to the “perverted” nature of the attack on a disabled child in Inverness, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Cameron must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the next decade. Authorities state that his history of exploiting a position of trust to target a vulnerable child necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his licence conditions in Inverness or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a significantly lengthier term of incarceration.
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