A man from East Ardsley, Leeds, has been jailed for 37 years after being convicted of more than 40 sexual and physical assault offences against five victims, following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Leeds Safeguarding Unit.
Paul Benstock, 62, of Appletree Court, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court, where he was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was convicted in July, following a trial at the same court, of offences including 14 counts of rape against both adult and child victims, committed between 1998 and 2020.
He was also found guilty of making indecent images of children, an offence uncovered through a National Crime Agency Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command investigation.
Courage to detail crimes
Detective Sergeant Michelle Barnes, of Leeds Safeguarding Unit, said: “We had one victim come forward to us to reporting that they had been the victim of offences at the hands of Benstock. As a result of our enquiries, we identified four other victims who then also had the courage to detail the crimes they had been subjected to. Much of Benstock’s offending was against victims who were children at the time.
“His victims have shown incredible bravery in giving us detailed accounts of what has taken place and then again supporting the trial process by giving evidence when Benstock refused to take accountability for his awful crimes. Benstock is yet to be sentenced and I know that that date will be another significant milestone in the journey that his victims have been through, but I do hope that today having got these verdicts that it brings them some comfort knowing that they were believed.
“I do not underestimate how hard it is to take that step to report physical or sexual offences to the police but if you have been a victim, please reach out for help and support when you are ready.”
Anyone affected by similar offences can find information on reporting and support, including West Yorkshire Police’s ‘When You Are Ready’ campaign, via the force’s website.
