Man found responsible for committing acts of sexual assault against young girl

An 80-year-old man has been deemed responsible for sexually assaulting a young girl in Warrington on a number of occasions.

Gene Bennett, of St Katherines Way, Fairfield and Howley, Warrington, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for a fact-finding hearing between Wednesday 4 December and Friday 6 December, after being charged with one count of sexual assault by penetration of a girl under 13, and two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13. 

Bennett, who has been diagnosed with dementia, was deemed unfit to take part in a trial and as such, a finding of facts hearing was commenced instead.

The jury ultimately decided that Bennett was responsible for having committed the acts he was charged with, and an outcome will be determined at a later court hearing.

On Saturday 11 February 2023, Cheshire Police were contacted to report a girl had been sexually assaulted by Bennett in the Warrington area in 2021 when she was around nine years old. It was reported that Bennett had sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions.

Bennett was subsequently arrested, interviewed and later charged in relation to the incidents.

Following the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, DC Cadman said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case for speaking about what happened to her and the subsequent courage she has showed throughout the investigation.

“While Bennett was not deemed medically fit to stand trial, the outcome of this hearing acknowledges that he committed these horrific acts, and I hope this brings the victim and her family some sense of closure.”