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Record details

A man has been convicted following a series of indecent exposure incidents in Theale following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Stephen Benyon, 49, of Sandy Lane, Caldicot, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 October, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent exposure and one public order offence.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 17 December.

At around 10.10pm on 16 April 2024 a 40-year-old woman was crossing an overbridge near Theale railway station when she was confronted by a man who was exposing himself and masturbating while looking at her.

Officers received a further report on Thursday 19 September 2024 when a man exposed himself in front of a woman at Theale station and started masturbating.

Detectives conducted a thorough investigation, carrying out plain clothes patrols, reviewing CCTV, and undertaking witness enquiries. Following the incident in September they published a CCTV appeal in the media. The appeal resulted in several names coming forward to police which were eliminated from the investigation. The case was closed pending any further investigative opportunities.

At around 9.15pm on Thursday 28 August 2025 a 16-year-old girl was at Theale railway station when she was approached by a man who exposed himself and started masturbating.

Around 10.10pm on Tuesday 30 September 2025, the same victim from the September 2024 incident reported to police that she had encountered the man again, who had made comments to her that caused her distress.

Detectives began a new investigation, carrying out witness and CCTV enquiries, and nightly plain clothes operations. Officers also made enquiries at local pubs in the area, showing the CCTV image of the suspect to staff and punters to see if anyone recognised him.

Benyon was arrested on Wednesday 22 October after staff at a pub in Church Street recognised him and called police. Officers attended the pub in an unmarked vehicle and apprehended Benyon as he stood drinking in the beer garden.

Detective Sergeant Antonio Civitillo said:

"The victims were going about their business as usual when Benyon targeted them for his own perverted sexual gratification - causing them considerable shock and distress.

“We're very grateful that they came forward to report these incidents and have been incredibly supportive of our enquiries to apprehend him. I'd also like to thank the pub staff who alerted us so quickly when they spotted him. Sexual offences on the railway network will never be tolerated and we will always do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

"Our enquiries are ongoing. We believe it is possible there could be more victims who Benyon may have exposed himself to and urge anyone who may have been a victim to text BTP on 61016, using the reference Op Brennabor.”

Record details

A predator who sexually abused two girls has been jailed.

Prosecutor Hillary Roberts said Rocco Malnati, 51, of Blaenavon Road in Govilon, “had a dark side to him” which led to him “committing a variety of sexual acts” against two victims between 2004 and 2010.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Malnati bought the first victim “treats” including alcohol and cigarettes. Mr Roberts said the defendant abused her by performing oral sex, “repeated acts of penial penetration,” making her expose her breasts while he masturbated, and assaulting her in his car in a lay-by.

The victim said she became aware she was being taken advantage of but “didn’t know any way out of it,” Mr Roberts added.

The prosecution said Malnati masturbated in front of the second victim when she was 11 and either topless or naked, and engaged in penetrative sexual abuse when she was a teenager. She said that when she confronted him and threatened to report him, he said he would kill himself.

The offences emerged in 2022 when one victim’s partner found sexual photos of her on her phone that Malnati had her send him.

Malnati was arrested and admitted sexual contact with the victims in interview, but claimed it was after they turned 16. He denied the offences, and a trial scheduled for September last year was delayed until July this year.

Ahead of trial, he pleaded guilty to five offences of sexual activity with a child for the first victim, and engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child and sexual activity with a child for the second.

In a statement, one victim said Malnati “took my innocence at a very young age” and “used me as a piece of meat to satisfy his deviant sexual desires.” “I will never get my childhood back,” she said. “I never feel safe. I’m always looking over my shoulder for potential threats.”

Jeffrey Jones, in mitigation, said this was Malnati’s first custody experience as he had never troubled the courts before. “He [is] a man of hitherto clean character,” he said. Mr Jones noted Malnati had engaged with probation services, done charity work, and cared for two family members, showing “a positive side” to him.

“It’s clear to everyone that’s heard [the victims’ statements] that both have been significantly traumatised and deeply affected by your actions,” said Recorder Paul Lewis KC. “No sentence I can pass can undo the harm you have caused.”

Recorder Lewis sentenced Malnati to 14 years and 10 months, comprising 12 years and 10 months in custody and two years extended licence. He must register as a sex offender for life and was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. Both victims received lifelong restraining orders against him.

“I want to recognise the courage [the victims] have shown in the investigation and today,” Recorder Lewis said.

Record details

A CALDICOT predator sent sexually explicit messages and videos to who he thought were 12 and 13 year old girls online before asking if they would meet him at a hotel for sex.

Neil Rockliffe messaged ‘Freya’ on the Just Say Hi online dating app on March 6. The account was being run by a member of a paedophile hunter group, and they told Rockliffe they were aged 13.

Despite this, they exchanged numbers and the conversation moved to WhatsApp.

During the conversation, Rockliffe referenced that what he was doing was “illegal” and that he was “too old for her”.

However he exchanged pictures with ‘Freya’, and soon turned the conversation sexual – including asking her what she was wearing and if she watched porn.

Rockliffe then began instructing ‘Freya’ how to masturbate, and asked her to send pictures of her doing so – which she refused to do.

“It seems you saw yourself as some sort of instructor or teacher,” said Judge Lucy Crowther.

Over the next few days his messages became more explicit, as he told the decoy he wanted to have sex with them. He also sent explicit pictures and videos.

In one message Rockliffe referenced her dad and asked if she wanted to sex with a man older than her father, before adding: ‘I want to be your first’.

He asked the decoy about going to a hotel with him to have sex, but said she would have to say she was his daughter if questioned by members of staff. He also asked whether the ‘girl’ would be the first in her class to have sex.

Rockliffe asked ‘Freya’ if she had any friends she wanted to join them, and she gave him the number of ‘Sophie’ – another decoy account.

The defendant started a group chat with both decoys – and ‘Sophie’ identified she was 12 years old.

Rockliffe sent messages again referring to meeting in a hotel for sex, asking the ‘girls’ for photographs, and sending explicit images.

The messages were passed on to the police, and a paedophile hunter group attended the defendant’s address.

In interview, Rockliffe said he believed ‘Freya’ was 18. He accepted sending explicit messages, pictures of his penis and a video of him masturbating, but said he was “drunk” and “had no intention to meet” as “it was just talk”.

However, he later admitted two offences each of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to do a sexual act, and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Rockliffe, 55, of Birbeck Road, had no previous convictions.

“Clearly the best mitigation available to this defendant is the fact that he pleaded guilty,” said Martha Smith-Higgins, appearing for Rockliffe.

She acknowledged there was “very little” she could say to mitigate the offences, but added he was “drinking very heavily” at the time – sometimes up to 2.5 litres of vodka a day.

The defendant had been on an 18+ dating website so did not seek out children, she said, but Rockliffe accepted what he did after he found out the purported ages of the ‘girls’ was “obscene”.

Judge Crowther jailed Rockliffe for three years and one month.

A hearing will be held on August 19 to consider an application for a sexual harm prevention order.

Record details

A paedophile dressed as a member of a "well-known boy band" when he groomed a teenage girl into performing sexual acts upon him and upon herself. The victim said she continues to "carry the abuse" and made attempts on her own life.

Paul Clarke, 64, of Pontypool, sexually abused the victim when she was just 13 years old. He first came across her while waiting at a bus stop in the Blackwood area, while he was playing loud music in his car.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard the defendant was "dressed like a well-known member of a boy band" in a bid to make himself look younger. He went on to sexually abuse the girl in his car by grooming her into performing oral sex upon him.

Sentencing, Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant said Clarke also performed oral sex upon the girl and penetrated her with his fingers and with objects such as a glass bottle and a metal pump. He would also purchase alcohol for her and persuaded her to keep their meetings a secret.

The abuse came to light after the victim contacted the police as an adult and Clarke was subject to a trial accused of 10 counts of indecent assault. The defendant, of Albion Road, was found guilty of all counts. The court heard he had no previous relevant convictions.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Clare Wilks the victim said: "The abuse I suffered affected my life in every way.... I don't understand what love is.... I am trying to understand why this happened to me. He took away my childhood and was forced to grow up. The control of power he had over me stays with me to this day. I have struggled to form healthy relationships and sex has always been a trigger for me.

"I carry abuse with me every day and I think about it. Some days it hit me so hard I can't get out of bed. I have made attempts to end my life. I was unable to go to work and on occasions I suffered with depression. I just wanted a normal relationship with a partner and a normal family but Paul Clarke has taken that away from me.

"I tried to move on but it doesn't go away. During the court proceedings I was anxious, had sleepless nights and nightmares of Paul Clarke and woke up. I worried about attending court and of the effects repeating my experience would impact on my mental health. I want to get past the abuse and learn to trust and love again. I want to be happy and free."

In mitigation defence barrister Martha Smith-Higgins said her client had been a law-abiding citizen over the past decades since the offences. She said the defendant had lost his mother at the age of six and was unable to speak for seven years due to the impact on him. The barrister asked the court to pass a determinate sentence acknowledging her client would receive an inevitable and lengthy custodial sentence.

Judge Porter-Bryant sentenced Clarke to nine years imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements for an indefinite period.

Record details

A man attempted to abduct a 13-year-old girl after pulling up to her in his car and offering her money and drugs for sexual intercourse. He was caught after it was discovered he had coincidentally inappropriately propositioned his victim's mother.

Richard Hulme, 27, was driving round the streets of Abergavenny on July 7 last year and approaching lone women in an attempt to engage them in conversation. At some point he approached a 13-year-old and began speaking to her through his car window.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Friday heard the defendant was aware he was speaking to an underage girl after the victim told him her age. Despite that, he asked the victim to come into his car and made sexualised comments about her appearance.

During the conversation, Hulme offered the girls money and drugs for sexual acts, with the intention of having sexual intercourse with her. He also lied about his age, and told the victim he was 17-years-old. The 13-year-old refused to do this, and it was later discovered the defendant had also approached the victim's mother on the same day.

Hulme, of Trem y Mynydd, Blaenavon, was arrested and denied the offences, claiming there was no sexual motive on his part, but he was found guilty of attempted abduction and attempting to incite a female child to engage in sexual activity. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, defence barrister Hilary Roberts said his client had led a "productive life", had a good work record, and was in a relationship at the time of the offences, which has since ended. He said the defendant has the support of his family, but faces problems with his accommodation. Mr Roberts said "nothing physically happened" to the victim, and there was no threat of her being grabbed or forced into his car.

Sentencing, Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant said: "There is still some denial on your part on your intention, you harboured sexual intercourse... You were adopting a number of means and methods to encourage this 13-year-old to come with you."

Hulme was sentenced to four years imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Record details

A man who burnt a womans ankle with heated hair straighteners and forced her to stand naked in front of her bedroom window for half an hour 'like a Blair Witch' before he raped her has been jailed for 13 years.

At Gloucester crown court yesterday (Oct 1), Jordan Bibby, 22, of Penda Close, Sedbury, nr Chepstow, was unanimously found guilty by a jury of eight men and four women of raping the woman at her home on February 11th 2018.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Bibby: You controlled your victim through fear. The rape has had a significant impact on her life, the effects of which will be long-lasting. She has been left with emotional scars which the passage of time will not diminish."

Prosecutor Charles Thomas told the court the woman, who was 20 at the time, was driving home when she saw Bibby, whom she knew, standing on a roundabout in Chepstow just before 2am.

"She stopped to speak to him," said Mr Thomas. "He demanded that he take her to Newport. She refused and said she would take him back to Sedbury.

The woman stopped a short distance from Bibbys home address and indicated to him to get out. It was at this point that he became aggressive towards her and ordered her to continue driving to her home.

During a heated argument he deliberately broke the indicator stick on her steering wheel.

When they arrived at her address he pushed her against a wall, after which she fell down to the ground, and he snatched her car keys from her. He drove off in her car before but returned a few minutes later.

The victim said that when they got back Bibby grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to my flat, on the top floor of the building.

He was ever so angry about something, he started whacking me. I was hysterical and I kept begging him to stop.

The court was told that Bibby began punching the womans waist and the lower part of her body and he used her hairbrush as a weapon. He repeatedly struck her on her hand.

"He then got hold of my heated hair straighteners and clamped them around my ankle," she said.

It immediately burnt my skin and when I screamed he tightened his grip. I begged him to stop.

He then made be stand naked in front of my bedroom window for a long time. It made me feel vulnerable.

He then ordered me to stand in the corner. If I went to move hed threaten me.

I pleaded with him to let me go to the toilet. He wouldnt. But after what seemed a long time he did eventually let me go.

When I came back into the bedroom, he told me to get into the bed and massage his private parts. Again I said no.

I told him in no uncertain terms no and it was at this point he tried to rape me. It only lasted 20 seconds before he gave up as he was unable to sustain an erection.

When I woke up the next morning he was still in my flat and acted as if nothing had happened.

The jury was told that the next day the woman contacted the police in Chepstow to report the incident but was told that she would need to report it to Gloucestershire Police. She initially declined to go to Gloucester, but changed her mind three months later.

The prosecutor explained to the court that even though there was a three month delay in the woman reporting to the police that she had been raped, she had spoken to trusted work colleagues and told them that she had been raped a few days after the incident and told them that it 'was her worst birthday ever.'

Lloyd Jenkins, defending, told the jury: Yes he was aggressive and he absconded with her car - and he admits to pulling the womans hair and marching her into her flat and assaulting her.

However he doesnt accept that he forced her to stand naked in front of the window like a Blair Witch, nor did he rape her.

He said there was no sex, therefore there was no rape. In effect it is a binary decision. The woman says it was 20 seconds. He said it never happened.

Did he rape the woman 31 months ago? When you factor everything into your deliberations the observations submitted on behalf of Bibby but if there is an element of doubt and where there is doubt you must give the benefit to the defendant. I invite you to find him not guilty.

While waiting for the trial to be held, the court was told that Bibby had to deal with the effects of his mothers suicide and the death of a 17-year-old nephew in a car accident.

Judge Lawrie turned to Bibby and said: Rape is one of the most serious offences. I have listened to the short but compelling evidence from the victim.

You adopted an abusive approach towards this woman. You exploited her inexperience of life especially in the lead up to the rape itself.
You were controlling and took advantage of her generosity of her spirit.

You contested the case and I see little remorse for your actions. You effectively conducted this trial through gritted teeth.

You used the womans hair straighteners to burn the skin of her ankle. You controlled her through fear. You forced her to stand naked in the window, making her feel very vulnerable.

Ive read the victims revised statement which in summary she states the rape has had a significant impact on her life, the effects of which will be long-lasting. You will have left emotional scars on her for the rest of her life which the passage of time will not diminish.

I suggest you read it and reflect on it while you serve the next 13 years in prison.

The judge ordered that Bibby should sign the sex offenders register for life and be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order not to contact his victim. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 170.

"**Detective Superintendent Steve Bean of Gloucestershire Police said after the case Id like to pay tribute to the victim in this case.

She has shown immense personal strength and resilience and I hope that she now finds some level of closure after suffering such traumatic events.

We absolutely recognise the impact of domestic abuse and sexual offending and work very closely with our partners in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to ensure that everything is done to prosecute such cases and achieve justice for the victims.

If you, or someone that you know is being subjected to similar offences, please do not suffer in silence; please report it.

Id like to reassure everyone that reports will be treated seriously, sensitively and in the strictest confidence. We can also access support through a number of agencies that deal specifically with victims of this type of offending."

Heidi Price, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said: This sentence reflects the serious nature of these offences, which were carried out against a vulnerable victim.

No one could fail to be moved by the victims personal statement, in which she detailed the long-term effects of the abuse she suffered. The impact of such offences can be devastating and can last a lifetime.

That is why the CPS is committed to working with the police and other criminal justice partners to protect victims and bring offenders to justice."