“The violation that has been inflicted on me has been, and continues to be, my own life sentence”

The offences took place between 1986 and 1998 and one survivor was just three years old when Bentley first abused her. Wayne Bentley’s victims have lived with the effects of his brutal crimes into their adulthood, as a result experiencing the breakdown of relationships, fear of being at home alone, and of the dark, and as one put it in her victim personal statement, having all of her memories “tarnished by fear and anxiety.”

She adds that as a child she was timid, shy, lacked confidence and hardly ate, having no appetite due to living in misery. Imagine feeling, as she did, that at the age of eight you just did not want to live any more. Heartbreaking, and all down to Bentley’s monstrous actions.

This survivor came forward to police and an investigation was launched with two further victims coming forward.

Wayne Bentley, (DOB 13.09.1971), 52, of Sutton was found guilty at trial of 13 charges including six counts of gross indecency, six counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape of a female under the age of 13. 

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Michael Barker, said: “Bentley is a predator who took advantage of his young victims. His past has finally caught up with him and the sentence given to him today will ensure he remains behind bars for many years to come.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victims who came forward and re-lived their ordeal. I hope the fact that Bentley will now be behind bars will help them to move forward with their lives.

“This demonstrates that, no matter when you come forward and report an offence, no matter how many years have passed, it will always be taken seriously and fully investigated.”