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WEB PAGE– www.twentyfour7news.co.uk/bristol – 3.15 PM GMT 11 Dec 2013
JOANNA MAY GUILTY OF BENEDICT FINCH ABDUCTION
By Danny Deal
Joanna May pleaded guilty to the abduction of 8-year-old Benedict Finch in front of Mr Justice Evans at Bristol Crown Court today.
The 27-year-old abducted Benedict Finch after becoming obsessed with having him for herself, it can now be revealed, after she
discovered she was infertile.
May was arrested and charged with the abduction after Benedict was discovered abandoned in Leigh Woods. She had been keeping him
in the basement of her flat in Mortimer Crescent, Clifton for nine days during October 2012.
May had displayed symptoms of fantasist behaviour in the past and shown an ‘unhealthy’ interest in a friend’s baby.
This information can now be reported after the judge, Mr Justice Evans, lifted an order banning publication.
May stared ahead and showed no sign of emotion during her time in court.
The judge told May she had committed ‘a heinous and dreadful act that harmed in extreme ways the emotional and physical welfare of a
vulnerable young child’ and that the abduction had left Benedict’s family suffering ‘eight days of torturous uncertainty’ and ‘unforgivable
harassment and vilification by the media’.
Julian Paget QC prosecuting described May as ‘calculating, manipulative, arrogant and extremely dangerous’.
Members of Benedict Finch’s family were in court to hear the verdict but showed little emotion and declined to comment.
Sentencing will take place next week.
286 comments and 7 people are discussing this article
Simon Flynn
This is a truly chilling case. Let’s hope she gets the sentence she deserves. My thoughts are with Benedict Finch’s family.
Jean Moller
She is a vile piece of scum. Hahahahahaha Joanna May everyone inside prison will know what you did and there will be degradation
heaping on you I hope you’re never released. Pain to you.
Anthony Smith
Exodus 22.18: ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’
Samantha Singh
Hopefully this will be able to bring some closure for her family. Thinking of them and poor little Benedict.
Patricia Gumm
For the sake of the family and for Ben we should be thankful that justice has been done. And we should spare a thought too for the other
poor children who suffered her as a teacher without knowing the evil in her heart.
Jasleen Harper
Are we going to pay for her to wallow in prison with satellite tv and psychotherapy now? People like her should be put to work cleaning
up shit like them.
Cliff Downs
Jasleen we shouldn’t use language like that out of respect for Ben and his family.
Simon Flynn
The news is a 24/7 monster. It devours all information and we feed it with our opinions, so we can’t be shy of expressing ourselves even
if we don’t like the language other people use. It’s called free speech.
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