Disgraced Mansfield kickboxing champ back behind bars - for joining a gym

Adam “Rocky” Beniston was prohibited from being near girls under 16 after he was jailed in 2012 for having relationships with two 14-year-olds. Released on licence after serving half of his sentence, the 30-year-old joined Starbox Gym in Stanton Hill, but, following a tip-off to police, was arrested last month for breaching the order.

Nottingham Crown Court yesterday heard how Beniston had not told anyone at the gym of his past and there were regularly children on the premises.

He did not attempt to speak with any young people, but the court was told his work-out sessions as a professional kickboxer often attracted a crowd, some of which were children.

He had even offered to take classes, although there was no indication he wanted to work with children.

Steven Taylor, prosecuting, said: “It was quite clear he was going to place himself in situations where he would come in to contact with young people. He wanted to play a significant role in the club.”

William Bennett, mitigating, said: “He accepts it’s a breach of the order, and it was his responsibility. He only has himself to blame, he accepts that.”

He said Beniston had been living with his grandfather and had joined the gym to “get rid of stress”.

Mr Bennett said Beniston also wanted to apologise to the owner because of the embarrassment he had caused.

Beniston, who previously lived in Mansfield and Mablethorpe, but gave his most recent address as Haddon Street in Sutton, had been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court in October 2012 after admitting relationships with two 14-year-old girls.

He befriended one in 2010, before making advances towards her. He went on to have sex with her on as many as 30 occasions.

He was arrested after tip-off but he initially claimed the allegations were ‘fantasy’.

Soon after he started a relationship with another girl, but she turned on him when she found out about the relationship with the first teenager.

The judge at Lincoln Crown Court said he had “wrecked lives” to “satisfy his lust”.

Along with a five-year sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given the sexual offences prevention order, which prevented him from working or engaging with any activity with girls under 16 unless they are accompanied by an adult who know of his criminal past.

He admitted breaching that order.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Michael Stokes QC, said: “You have convictions for very serious sexual offences and you were sent to jail for five years, which is an indication of how serious it is.

“When you were released on licence it was important you were transparent about the order. You were not transparent.” He jailed him for eight months to run concurrent with his existing jail sentence from 2012.

It is understood he will serve at least another six months, but it is possible he will be forced to serve the remainder of the five years, meaning he may not be released until October 2017.