Accused testifies at child abuse trial

8:37am Thursday 11th September 2008

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A MAN accused of sexually abusing two children admitted he can think of no good reason why they would make up the allegations.

Neil Bennett, 50, of Forest Edge, in Buckhurst Hill, testified for the first time at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where he is on trial accused of ten sex offences against a girl, including rape, and two offences against a boy.

Defence barrister David Owen-Jones put a number of the allegations to his client, including that he had indecently assaulted the female alleged victim in the shower and attempted to rape her on his bed, with the accused denying them all.

Mr Owen-Jones said: “It goes on and on. I don’t think I need to mention every allegation. Is there any truth at all in these allegations?”

Mr Bennett replied: “There is no truth in any of these allegations.”

Responding to a specific allegation that he had indecently assaulted the male complainant after showing him an adult freeview channel on his TV, Mr Bennett said that was impossible as he only signed up to Sky TV from 2003 - after the alleged offence took place.

Answering allegations that sexual offences occurred at his then home, in New North Road, Hainault, Mr Bennett said they could not have happened as his wife or children would have been present.

He added his wife “could hear a pin drop from a mile away”.

Cross-examining Mr Bennett, prosecutor Sally Ann Hales said: “The reality is there were many opportunities. There were many times when your wife was away.”

She said the fact that his two children would have been present was little defence as when Mr Bennett first became acquainted with the two complainants his youngest son had not been born and his eldest was only four months old.

She told Mr Bennett: “Not much in terms of a chaperone, do you agree?”

He replied: “I agree.”

Despite repeating that he had never been left alone with either of the two complainants, Mr Bennett was forced to admit under cross-examination there were occasions when he would have been alone with the male alleged victim, when he gave him lifts in his car.

The female complainant in the trial had originally made allegations against Mr Bennett in 2000.

Ms Hales asked the accused what he thought her motivation could have been.

He said she might have been looking for financial compensation from the Criminal Injuries Board.

Ms Hales replied: “Was she financially motivated at that age? Was money her motive?”

Mr Bennett answered: “I’m not certain.”

Under questioning Mr Bennett admitted that, a number of years after the woman had first made allegations against him, she had turned up at his place of work and he had given her a lift to her home.

Ms Hales said: “What was going through your mind? This woman who made all these allegations and you get into a car with her?

Mr Bennett replied: “When she showed up I panicked. She showed up out of the blue.

"I gave her some money, I just wanted to get her out of the way. I didn’t want her at my place of work in case she started shouting or screaming.

In hindsight I should have closed the door and just left.”

Asked by Ms Hales what motivation the male complainant in the trial had for making allegations, Mr Bennett said he must have seen that his house was up for sale and thought he could make money out of it.

Ms Hales said it wasn’t up for sale when the alleged victim had told a friend about the apparent abuse years before and also pointed out neither of the complainants had ever asked him for money.

She told Mr Bennett: “Really you have got no explanation at all as to why they might lie about you?”

He replied: “No.”

The male complainant in the trial had made a specific allegation that he had once visited Barnado’s, in Barkingside, were Mr Bennett worked as a painter and decorator.

He said the accused had showed him a pornographic magazine.

Appearing as a defence witness, Mr Bennett’s former supervisor Peter Trimby said he had never seen any such magazines at work and would not have allowed them.

Asked to comment on Mr Bennett’s character, Mr Trimby said: “When he first came he was quite quiet. Slowly but surely we dragged him out of that. I found him to be friendly and honest. I would trust him with my children.”

Under cross-examination Mr Trimby admitted he was not in the workplace all the time and might not have been aware whether there were pornographic magazines there or not.

Mr Bennett faces two charges of rape, one of attempted rape, five of indecent assault, and two of indecency with a child - all said to have taken place with a young girl.

He also faces two charges of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16.

All the alleged offences are said to have been committed between 1997 and 2000.

Mr Bennett denies all the charges against him.

The trial continues.