Paedophile jailed after abusing Army cadet position

A paedophile who abused his position as an Army Cadet Colour Sergeant to rape a girl has been jailed.

Benjamin English, who was previously known as Steven Watts, initially pleaded guilty to inciting sexual activity with three girls while in his role in Peterlee in 2006 and received a suspended sentence.

In 2013 he was jailed for five years for raping a five-year-old girl five times whilst babysitting her.

Following this offence, he changed his name by deed poll to English.

But in 2022, after struggling with the abuse she had suffered, one of the original three victims further reported being raped by the 58-year-old.

English, of Middlesbrough, denied the offence but was found guilty by a jury at Durham Crown Court and today sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Safeguarding Detective Constable Graeme Whitfield, who led the investigation, said: “English is a predator and a danger to children and this was a sickening abuse of trust that had a significant impact on the victim’s wellbeing for more than a decade.

“In 2022 the victim felt able to come forward and tell detectives the whole story and we thank her for her courage in doing so and the fortitude she showed in helping us bring English to justice.

“If you have been a victim of abuse, please come forward and report it. We will believe you.”