Ben Frank Spruce

A man from St Peter Port, Guernsey, has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against children, including the rape of a 13-year-old girl. Ben Frank Spruce, who was a teenager at the time of the offences and is now 20 years old, was found guilty following a two-and-a-half-week trial at the Royal Court in Guernsey in March 2024.

The court heard that Spruce committed five sexual offences involving three young victims, all under the age of 16. These included two counts of rape against a 13-year-old girl he met on social media, with the assaults occurring in a field near her home on 26 December 2023, when Spruce was 18. He was also convicted of one count of sexual assault against a 15-year-old girl at Saumarez Park when he was 17, and two counts of sexual touching of a child involving two other girls. In addition, Spruce admitted to four counts of making indecent images of children.

During the sentencing on 21 May 2025, Judge Catherine Fooks addressed Spruce directly, stating: "You are clearly a serious danger to children and the only way to protect them is with you in prison." The judge highlighted the severity of his actions, noting that there were a total of 10 victims—eight girls and two boys—all under 16. The court learned that Spruce used threats to coerce his victims into complying with his demands. In one particularly distressing case, he threatened a boy to perform a sexual act, filmed it, and then shared the video with the boy's schoolmates.

Victim impact statements were read out in court, revealing the profound and lasting effects of Spruce's crimes. One girl described how the incidents had led her to miss a lot of school due to mental health issues and had impacted her trust in new relationships. Another victim spoke of struggling with depression, constant anxiety, and still feeling his hands on her body. The rape victim expressed ongoing fear, stating she was worried about encountering Spruce daily and felt scared and disgusted by the ordeal.

Spruce's sentence of 15 years and five months was backdated to 7 March 2024, the date of his initial remand. Upon release, he will be subject to supervision. The case was heard at Guernsey's Royal Court, with reporting by BBC News Guernsey.