Gloriavale child sex offender admits he has ‘hurt some people dreadfully’

Gloriavale child sex offender admits he has ‘hurt some people dreadfully’

Joanne Naish | The Press |

A jury has heard disturbing evidence from a self-confessed child sex offender about how he touched young girls, but had consensual “affairs” with others.

Jonathan Benjamin, 58, is facing a jury trial in the Greymouth District Court for offending that allegedly happened in the Gloriavale Christian community from 1989 to 2017 at Haupiri and Springbank, the cult’s original site at Springbank, near Christchurch.

He has pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexual violation by rape, four charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, four charges of indecent assault on a girl under 12, indecent assault on a young person under 16, four charges of indecent assault on a girl 12 to 16 and two charges of indecent assault.

Benjamin previously pleaded guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault of children and unlawful sexual connection.

Judge Mark Callaghan dismissed four charges against Benjamin after the Crown concluded its case on Friday.

Continue reading: Gloriavale sex offender admits he has hurt people