BUCKHURST HILL: Wife gives evidence in sex assault case (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

BUCKHURST HILL: Wife gives evidence in sex assault case

12:20pm Friday 12th September 2008 in

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THE wife of a man accused of various sex offences against children has given her full support to her husband.

Jacky Bennett said the man and woman accusing her husband, Neil, of abusing them as children were liars, although she could not think of a motivation for their untruths.

Snaresbrook Crown Court also heard from three character witnesses for Mr Bennett, 50, of Forest Edge, in Buckhurst Hill, who described him as an “honest, church-going man.”

Questioned by defence barrister David Owen-Jones over how her husband could have had the opportunity to abuse his two accusers, Mrs Bennett said he could not have been alone with either of them “under any circumstances”.

She later corrected herself and said there may have been “two or three occasions” when he was alone with them in his car.

Mr Owen-Jones questioned Mrs Bennett about the woman complainant asking: “Did she ever say anything to you that made you suspect something untowards was happening between her and Neil?”

Mrs Bennett replied “never”.

She also said she was never aware of the female complainant using the shower at her house despite one of her allegations being that Mr Bennett had indecently assaulted her in there.

Mr Owen-Jones produced documentary evidence to show Mrs Bennett was on sick leave at home for 16 weeks in 1999 and also evidence she was at home on January 6 2000 when the female complainant had alleged a specific offence had occurred.

Cross-examining Mrs Bennett, prosecutor Sally Ann Hales said: “You say at no stage did you have the slightest suspicion of anything?”

Mrs Bennett replied: “Never. I’d have thought after 24 years I’d know my husband.”

The prosecutor continued: “Do you agree there are a great many wives who have thought that and been wrong?”

Mrs Bennett answered: “I’m not them. If I thought there was any doubt whatsoever I’d have had to say so.”

Asked for her opinion on the female complainant in the trial, Mrs Bennett said: “She’s got lots of problems. I’m devastated at the allegations she made.”

Mrs Bennett also denied ever seeing any impropriety between her husband and the male complainant in the trial.

Ms Hales quizzed Mrs Bennett over whether she had discussed the allegations with her husband and whether they had been able to come to any conclusions as to their motivations.

The woman answered: “Not really. To be honest it’s very difficult to know the motives of people like that. I think we’ve thought about it. We haven’t come up with any answers. I’ve certainly thought about when the house was up for sale. I’ve thought about a lot of things.”

Ms Hales said: “What thought you have had has resulted in no conclusions. No explanations as to why they have told these lies about your husband.”

Mrs Bennett replied: “Nothing really. Only they know.”

Questioned over whether she had colluded with her husband over his defence, Mrs Bennett replied: “Why do that? All I have as evidence is the truth. I have sworn it’s the truth. That’s all I can tell. The truth.”

The court heard from defence witness Rev Jane Thorington-Hussell, the minister at Victoria Baptist Church, in Bow, where the Bennetts used to be members.

She said she had known Mrs Bennett since she was 15 and Mr Bennett since 1986 adding: “I know them very well as a friend and minister.”

Asked by Mr Owen-Jones to comment on Mr Bennett, she said: “It’s always hard to say in a few words, but he’s a very kind man and a hard-working man. He’s a good family man who’s worked hard for his family. He’s very helpful to people of all backgrounds. I’ve always come to the conclusion that he’s a man who’s honest.”

Another witness, Lyn Franks, said she had been a friend of Mr and Mrs Bennett for more than 25 years and was a godmother to their children.

She said she had been round the Bennetts' house many times.

Mr Owen-Jones asked: “Did you see anything or hear anything or become concerned about anything?”

She replied: “Not at all. I have two children and I would not have taken my children into a home where I saw anything untowards.”

A third character witness, Rev Simon Smith, minister at Buckhurst Hill Baptist Church where the Bennetts are currently members, said they were a very church-going family.

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.