A MAN from Llandudno Junction, Christopher Benton, sexually assaulted a woman in her bed and secretly filmed her getting dressed.
Christopher Benton’s victim said his actions have made her “feel like I’m living a sentence for something I didn’t do”.
On November 6, Christopher Benton, 31, of Conway Road, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Caernarfon Crown Court, convening at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.
He had already confessed to counts of voyeurism and assault by penetration, and will complete two-thirds of his sentence in confinement before being released on license.
Prosecutor Simon Rogers stated that, about 4am on April 14, 2022, the woman awoke to discover Benton engaging in sexual contact with her before he departed.
This left her “in shock” and “dazed”, before she later stripped the bed and washed herself.
She later confided to her friends about what had happened, and they told her to contact police.
The woman did so later that day – when asked by police if Christopher Benton thought she was awake at the time, she answered: “No.”
Christopher Benton was arrested at his place of work on April 15 – during his initial police interview, he answered some questions but gave no comment to others.
His mobile phone was analysed, which recovered four videos Christopher Benton had filmed of the woman trying to get dressed.
These videos, Mr Rogers said, focused on the woman’s genitals, while she was unaware in all four videos that she was being filmed by Christopher Benton.
Christopher Benton’s DNA was later recovered from swabs taken from the woman – he answered no comment to all questions during a further police interview on May 22.
Extracts from the woman’s victim impact statement read: “I’m no longer that bubbly, happy person who used to enjoy a social life, and life itself.
“I question the ‘what-ifs’. It’s draining, and it exhausts me. My life has taken a huge hit with what has happened to me. I feel I’m not the same person anymore; I feel confused and hurt.
“I’m always doubting everything because of what happened. My emotions are all over the place, and daily life has become really difficult compared to before all of this started.
“I struggle to look in the mirror, as I don’t recognise who is standing in front of me. Sometimes, I don’t see a way out of this dark hole. The ‘what-ifs’ and the unknowns kill me daily.
“The whole situation has destroyed who I am and who I want to be, and I wonder if I will ever get that back.”
Defending Christopher Benton, who had no previous convictions, Simon Killeen conceded that “imprisonment is essential and unavoidable”.
But he asked the court to acknowledge Christopher Benton’s guilty pleas, and added: “Some people are better equipped than others to deal with custody. He is not somebody who is well-equipped.”
Christopher Benton lost his job as soon as his employers were informed of these offences, Mr Killeen said.
Sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones imposed an indefinite restraining order to protect Christopher Benton’s victim.
He will also adhere to sex offenders register notification requirements for life.
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