Hard labour for Preston police officer who sexually abused teen girl

In early December 1859 there was great excitement amongst the congregation of the new Grimshaw Street Independent Chapel, Preston, when it was officially opened having cost £2,800 to erect with the local builders Messrs. Cooper & Tullis skilfully creating a Gothic style structure.

Unfortunately, an incident a day before the opening would cast a dark shadow amongst the congregation of 300 dedicated parishioners. On the Wednesday before the opening Mrs. Whittle went along with her daughter Alice, aged 16, to do some preparatory work. Thinking that it would be easier for her daughter to make the fires whilst she cleaned the chapel she put her to that task in the boiler house.

When they had been at the chapel a short time, she heard her daughter in the boiler house screaming. She immediately went into that room where her daughter appeared distraught and learnt from her that P.C. William Bennett had been acting improperly with her.

A couple of days later P.C. Bennett, a married man, appeared before the magistrates charged with committing an indecent assault upon Alice Whittle. Mr. Plant appeared for the prisoner and asked the Bench if they would allow the matter to be settled amicably out of court. The magistrates dismissed this suggestion and Chief Constable Joseph Gibbons agreed that it was in the public interest to proceed.

The girl was then called and she stated that she lived in Park Street with her family and that whilst she was in the boiler room putting coals on the fire P.C. Bennett had come in to light his pipe.

According to the girl the constable then put his arms around her and after calling her a little sweetheart proceeded to commit indecencies. She was familiar with him as he had been keeping an eye on the chapel recently and she had known him all her life. She had joked with him in the past, but he had never acted improperly before.

Mrs. Whittle was next called and she told the court that she had taken her daughter who was clearly upset to see Mr. Smith the surgeon. Unfortunately, the surgeon was not available until the next day to give his testimony and the case was remanded.

The following afternoon the chairman Henry Newsham Pedder reiterated the evidence from the previous day and then Mr. Smith the surgeon deposed that he had examined the girl. Telling the court that in his opinion there had been criminal intercourse.

Mr. Plant then spoke at some length on behalf of the constable and contended that whilst he may have been guilty of an indecency it was not to the extent alleged. Mr. Gibbons, who appeared much affected, then addressed the court. He stated that the constable had been in the force about 12 months and had performed his duties well and was the last person he thought could commit such an act.

After a brief consultation the magistrates returned with a guilty verdict and the chairman addressed the prisoner telling him they believed he had taken advantage of a young girl and that he would be sent to the House of Correction for six calendar months, with hard labour, his promising police career over.

As for the chapel it became a United Reformed church in 1971 and these days the recently renovated structure is the place of worship for Preston’s Seventh Day Adventist congregation