After a sentencing in 2021, Benjamin Cheyne, the Andover Paedophile, will serve 11 years in jail, having been convicted of two charges of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault against a minor.
On October 7, at Salisbury Crown Court, Judge Barnett characterised the events occurring between February 2019 and May 2020 as “an exceedingly grave offence.”
“Your egregious and utterly reprehensible behaviour during the last two instances while she was asleep inflicted unimaginable harm upon her,” he stated.
The victim’s mother stated that the assaults have led to the little girl experiencing “deteriorating self-esteem and confidence.”
“The effect is instantaneous and will influence her for the remainder of her life,” she informed the court.
It was heard that the now 11-year-old finds her own home triggering and suffers from night terrors, with a lack of sleep affecting her learning.
She worries about trusting people and making relationships, fearing Benjamin Cheyne, a father of two himself, will come and take her away.
Judge Barnett added that what happened has had “far-reaching consequences” on the victim’s “happiness, development, relationships with others and schooling”, causing “enormous trauma”.
The court heard that Benjamin Cheyne, aged 32, did not agree with the jury’s guilty verdict following the trial, but respected it, and he plans to move away from the area as soon as his sentence is over.
Following his 11-year sentence, Benjamin Cheyne, of Pilgrims Way, Andover, SP10, will be under licence for a year, and a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order will be in place indefinitely.
Detective Sergeant Eileen Speck of the Child Abuse Unit, Basingstoke, said: “I would like to thank DC Jenks for her hard work in investigating this complex case and in supporting this family. This is a really positive result at the Crown Court.
“Working in the Child Abuse Unit provides immense rewards for our detectives and police constables in protecting children against all levels of abuse. The dedication and passion they have to their role allow children to have a brighter future and achieve the goals they so rightly deserve in life.”
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