Child rapist jailed indefinitely

Bennett tied his victim up and choked him with a belt

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 is no longer the boy he was and no longer goes out to play."

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.

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.

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."