Kevin Barry Bentley

A former police officer from Durham has been imprisoned for 28 years after being found guilty of a series of serious sexual and physical assaults against multiple victims over three decades. Kevin Barry Bentley, aged 68 and from Spennymoor, was convicted at Durham Crown Court of 24 offences, including two counts of rape, six counts of assault, and eight counts of indecent assault. The abuses targeted five women and one girl, with some incidents dating back to the 1970s.

The case came to light following a three-year investigation by Durham Constabulary, initiated in 2018 when one victim reported historical sexual abuse. Officers from the Bishop Auckland Safeguarding Team identified and traced six victims in total, all of whom provided evidence detailing the sustained physical and sexual assaults perpetrated by Bentley over a 30-year period. Bentley had retired as a police constable in 2006, and the offences were confirmed to be unrelated to his professional role.

After a two-week trial, Judge James Adkin sentenced Bentley last week to 28 years in prison, accompanied by an extended licence period of six years. The judge stipulated that Bentley must serve at least 18-and-a-half years in custody before being eligible for parole consideration. Detective Constable Hannan, the lead investigator, described the case as a 'long and difficult investigation' and praised the victims' courage: 'Kevin Bentley repeatedly subjected his victims to horrific abuse and now faces many years in prison to reflect on the trail of damaged lives he has left behind him. Our thoughts today are with those women who were strong enough to give evidence to bring their abuser to justice after all this time.' Hannan also thanked the witnesses and the dedicated officers involved, emphasising the force's commitment to supporting survivors: 'I hope this conviction will reassure all survivors of abuse that, no matter who the perpetrator is and no matter what the circumstances may be, they can be confident that if they come forward we will listen and we will investigate.'

Detective Chief Inspector Cuthbert, head of Durham Constabulary's Professional Standards Department, highlighted the severity of Bentley's actions: 'Kevin Bentley subjected these women to a sustained campaign of abuse which spanned thirty years. While these offences were not related to Bentley's role as a police officer, they do not reflect the high standards of Durham Constabulary – the standards exemplified by the diligent and dedicated officers who worked to bring him to justice.' The conviction underscores the ongoing efforts to address historical sexual offences, providing closure to the victims after years of silence.