A FORMER painter and decorator at a children’s charity has been found guilty of multiple child sex offences.

Neil Bennett, 51, of Forest Edge in Buckhurst Hill, was found guilty of repeatedly raping and indecently assaulting a young girl.

The victim, now in her twenties, told Snaresbrook Crown Court that the abuse started on a small scale with inappropriate touching when she was as young as ten.

It accelerated through the years until it reached the point where Bennett would regularly rape her, often taking her out in his car where he would subject her to sexual acts.

The woman eventually suffered a mental breakdown because of the abuse.

At his trial, Bennett was also accused of indecently assaulting a male complainant, but he was cleared of these charges.

During the time when the offences were taking place, Bennett was working at the headquarters of the children’s charity Barnardo’s in Barkingside, but there is no evidence that any offences involved children cared for by the charity.

In summing up Judge Wendy Joseph QC told the jury: “You know a number of things about him – he’s had adulterous affairs and he’s not been in trouble with the law.

“I must emphasise you mustn’t jump to the conclusion that because he’s had affairs with women, or he’s deceived his wife, that he’s abused children.”

The jury found Bennett guilty on four charges of indecent assault, two of gross indecency with a child, and two of rape.

He was found not guilty of two charges of indecent assault on a male.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 1.