Two women who pursued three year long campaign to bring sexual abuser to justice praised
Judge Neil Rafferty KC praised the woman for their 'determination and bravery' as he jailed Stephen Eddie Benson, 30, from Rathkeele Way in the Creggan area of Derry for 42 months for sexually abusing the two women as they slept in beds in the home of one of the victims in the early hours of July 9, 2022
Two women who pursued a three year long campaign to bring their sexual abuser to justice have been praised at Derry Crown Court.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC praised the woman for their 'determination and bravery' as he jailed Stephen Eddie Benson, 30, from Rathkeele Way in the Creggan area of Derry for 42 months for sexually abusing the two women as they slept in beds in the home of one of the victims in the early hours of July 9, 2022.
Benson pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial earlier this year when presented with DNA evidence which linked him to the two offences.
The two victims, who were in court for the sentencing hearing, told Judge Rafferty that they wanted Benson to be named publicly.
Both had written in their personal victim statements that their lives had been on hold since they reported the abuse three years ago.
One wrote: "It has taken three years to get to court and during that time he has spread lies about us. The incident took place in my home which should have been a place of safety for me. I am and have been determined not to let this man get away with what he did. It has constantly been on my mind for the last three years and it has left a mark on me that I do not think will ever go away".
The second victim in her statement wrote "while I was relieved that he eventually pleaded guilty he should have done so earlier so I could have avoided all of the unnecessary stress".
Judge Rafferty told the two women "too many injured parties in these sort of cases say their lives have been on hold until the case has ended. The fear of not being believed is not the case here. Both of you had the strength and determination to pursue the complaint and seeing it through so that the defendant when faced with the evidence against him pleaded guilty. You both have the gold standard of vindication for victims.
"Victims in these cases historically talk about everything being about him. It is not about him. What happened to you were crimes and that is why you are here today and why he is here today", he said.
As well as jailing Benson for 42 months Judge Rafferty also placed the abuser on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period and also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.