Predator Locked Up for Five Years After Attack in Churchyard
Wicked Assault in Upton Churchyard
Winson Benta, 59, with no fixed address, has been slammed with a five-year jail term after a brutal sexual assault in Upton. The Reading Crown Court found him guilty of sexual assault, actual bodily harm (ABH), and ABH with intent on 28 August, following a five-day trial.
He was back at the same court on 13 November to receive his sentence and is now on the sex offenders’ register for life.
How the Horror Unfolded
On the evening of 30 January 2019, between 7.30pm and 7.45pm, Benta targeted a woman in her thirties in St Mary’s churchyard, Church Street, Slough. He knocked her unconscious before sexually assaulting her. A passing stranger interrupted the horrific attack, saving her from further harm.
Justice Served Thanks to DNA Evidence
- Benta was arrested on 6 March after Thames Valley Police matched his DNA to the crime scene.
- He was charged the very next day.
- Detective Constable Jessica Lawson praised the victim’s bravery throughout the investigation.
“This was a targeting of a lone female at night in the churchyard where she was grabbed, dragged across the ground and sexually assaulted,” said DC Lawson.
“The judge described the attack as prolonged, persistent and humiliating. Benta’s story was completely rejected by the jury.”
“We will leave no stone unturned to bring violent offenders like Benta to justice.”
Helping Victims, Protecting Communities
Thames Valley Police vow to continue supporting victims with dignity and respect while cracking down on sexual offenders. DC Lawson hopes the sentence offers the victim some closure and reassures locals that justice prevails.
