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| Child rapist jailed indefinitely | Child rapist jailed indefinitely |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A paedophile who returned to the scene of a previous sex attack to rape a schoolboy has been jailed indefinitely. | A paedophile who returned to the scene of a previous sex attack to rape a schoolboy has been jailed indefinitely. |
| Craig Bennett, 45, attacked the 12-year-old in the same field in Darwen, Lancashire, where 16 years earlier he had raped a 13-year-old boy. | Craig Bennett, 45, attacked the 12-year-old in the same field in Darwen, Lancashire, where 16 years earlier he had raped a 13-year-old boy. |
| At Preston Crown Court, Bennett was told he must serve at least 10 years. | At Preston Crown Court, Bennett was told he must serve at least 10 years. |
| The boy's mother told the court Bennett's attack on her son had "taken away the most precious time of his life - his childhood". | The boy's mother told the court Bennett's attack on her son had "taken away the most precious time of his life - his childhood". |
| The attack happened in May last year when Bennett took the boy to a wooded area, tied him up and choked him with a belt as he raped him twice. | |
| The boy and his family have been left "destroyed" by the attack, Preston Crown Court heard. | The boy and his family have been left "destroyed" by the attack, Preston Crown Court heard. |
| I can't stop thinking he will soon be released from prison, find me and my family and this time he will murder me Rape victim | I can't stop thinking he will soon be released from prison, find me and my family and this time he will murder me Rape victim |
| Bennett already had convictions for indecently assaulting two boys, aged 11 and 16, in separate attacks in 1990 and 1991. | Bennett already had convictions for indecently assaulting two boys, aged 11 and 16, in separate attacks in 1990 and 1991. |
| Judge Pamela Badley told the defendant he is a danger to boys aged 11 to 14 and jailed him indefinitely for public protection. | Judge Pamela Badley told the defendant he is a danger to boys aged 11 to 14 and jailed him indefinitely for public protection. |
| He must prove he is no longer a danger before he can be released. | He must prove he is no longer a danger before he can be released. |
| "He was abused in a despicable attack by you who preyed on him," Judge Badley said. | "He was abused in a despicable attack by you who preyed on him," Judge Badley said. |
| "He was found to have bruising of his body and the tell-tale marks about his neck consistent with strangulation and haemorrhaging of his eyes. | "He was found to have bruising of his body and the tell-tale marks about his neck consistent with strangulation and haemorrhaging of his eyes. |
| "He is no longer the boy he was and no longer goes out to play." | "He is no longer the boy he was and no longer goes out to play." |
| Threats to kill | Threats to kill |
| A jury convicted him of kidnap, two counts of rape of a child, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence, and making threats to kill last month. | A jury convicted him of kidnap, two counts of rape of a child, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence, and making threats to kill last month. |
| Bennett, of Stuart Close, Darwen, who was in a civil partnership with convicted paedophile Kelvin Bennett, was arrested after police scanned CCTV and saw him with the boy. | Bennett, of Stuart Close, Darwen, who was in a civil partnership with convicted paedophile Kelvin Bennett, was arrested after police scanned CCTV and saw him with the boy. |
| Det Insp Jim Elston, of Lancashire police, said he felt the "gravity of the offence would have warranted a life sentence", but that he respected the decision of the judge. | |
| "Bennett took advantage of the trusting and innocent nature of his victim in order to carry out a wicked and cruel sexual assault," he said. | |
| The court heard a victim impact statement from the youngster. | The court heard a victim impact statement from the youngster. |
| It read: "Since that man was found guilty at court, I can't stop thinking he will soon be released from prison, find me and my family and this time he will murder me. | |
| "I'm so terrified I don't think my life will ever be the same again." | "I'm so terrified I don't think my life will ever be the same again." |
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