Alleged historical sexual abuse “invented” for “attention”, court hears - Jersey Evening Post
by James Sharp · Jersey Evening PostPosted inNews
Alleged historical sexual abuse “invented” for “attention”, court hears
by James Sharp 29 July 202628 July 2026
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THE LAWYER representing a care manager accused of historical sexual abuse against a teenage boy suggested that his story was made-up “for attention” on the second day of a Royal Court trial yesterday.
Donna Bentley (53) denies committing four counts of procuring an act of gross indecency and two counts of indecent assault against a boy under the age of 16 in the early 1990s.
Giving evidence in the Royal Court on Tuesday, her accuser stated that he “spent years plucking up the courage” to report the alleged sexual abuse to the police.
Advocate Frances Littler, defending, asked him during cross-examination why he had initially decided to approach Ms Bentley via social media instead of reporting her to the police.
“I wanted to hear the reason I was abused, or an excuse as to why I was abused”, he answered.
“I wanted to get those answers to save us being here today, because there may have been some underlying issue that made her abuse me.”
He added that for him and “millions of others of abused children”, it is “not as simple as picking up the phone and going to the police”.
Advocate Littler then put to the complainant that he had actually kissed Ms Bentley on only one occasion, and when they were both fully clothed.
“We didn’t kiss, we had sex twice,” the complainant stated.
It was subsequently suggested that the complainant had been motivated by financial compensation, or attention, to “invent” stories of sexual abuse.
“I am unaware of any financial compensation,” he responded, “and I don’t know any right-framed adult who would want the attention of being sexually abused.”
Jurors were then invited by Advocate Littler to consider apparent discrepancies in the “factual order” of the alleged victim’s account.
The alleged victim was then accused of “elaborating in evidence what [he] said in interview to try and convince the jury” of his story.
The complainant countered that the alleged sexual abuse had taken place in the early 1990s, and as a result it was difficult to “drum up the exact details”.
“Even as the weeks and months go on, new stuff still comes into my mind that I’ve blocked out,” he stated. “That will be the case for the rest of my life.”
He was then asked by Advocate Littler to explain a message he had sent to Ms Bentley stating, “I’m going to sink your ship” before calling her an expletive term.
The complainant said that she “needed to see some repercussions”.
Later on in cross-examination, he was questioned on whether he might have “embellished” the alleged abuse in order “to explain your struggles with relationships”.
Pausing to collect himself, the man responded that he “still wonders to this day if I’m going to be good enough” in sexual contexts “because of that first time with Donna”.
The jury were then taken through a transcript of a police interview conducted with Ms Bentley following her arrest.
The defendant began the interview by explaining that she was a registered care manager for two residential homes in Jersey.
She admitted to knowing the complainant, but offered no comment to all questions pertaining to allegations of indecent assault.
Deputy Bailiff Mark Temple presides. The trial continues.
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