How one of Australia’s leading gymnastic coaches was able to abuse girls as young as nine over two decades

A once well-respected gymnastics coach with experience at gyms across Australia created ‘opportunities’ to abuse multiple teen girls over two decades, a court has been told.

Daniel Gordon Benson appeared at Albury District Court from custody at Goulburn supermax for a sentence hearing on 20 charges, including sexual assault of girls under 16.

The charges relate to the sexual abuse and indecent assault of students aged as young as 14 as far back as 1999 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, as well as Penrith in the city’s west.

Crown solicitor William Martin told the court they submitted it was ‘perhaps quite obvious’ that Benson was motivated because of an ‘interest in children, young girls’.

The Crown submitted a psychological report that also showed Benson had ‘failed to see the power dynamic’ and his authority over his victims, and his role in protecting them.

‘There’s a reference to him believing that two of the encounters were consensual, which again seems consistent with him minimising or justifying his offending,’ he said.

‘He then provided a letter to the court, which does address, in some respects, the impacts to the victim. That’s really the first time there’s been any evidence of that.

‘There’s only a couple of lines in what is a letter that is far more focused on the impacts on him … We would have concerns about his prospects of rehabilitation.’

Mr Martin said Benson was assessed as a ‘moderate risk of sexual recidivism’ and that the offending was not opportunistic given a ‘not insignificant amount’ of grooming.

He said Benson had ‘created opportunities’ such that he was able to offend against his teen victims ‘believing they would be compliant’ and would not report the attacks.

Lawyer Scott Schaudin disagreed that all of the offences were premeditated, stating the ‘facts speak of completely opportunistic conduct’ against at least one of the girls.

He went on to state that ‘whether remorse or contribution comes late or early’, Benson’s letter to the court showed he did have insight into the impacts of his offending.

‘Having now heard the eloquent victims in their delivery of the harm that he has caused, there is an appreciation, as he stands before you today, of that harm,’ he said.

The charges relate to the sexual abuse and indecent assault of students aged as young as 14 as far back as 1999 on Sydney ‘s Northern Beaches, as well as Penrith in the city’s west (pictured: Benson’s arrest)

Mr Schaudin said Benson had faced hardship in custody following his imprisonment on remand in 2021, namely that he was ‘warehoused’ without a treatment plan.

Benson was once named Levels Coach of the Year by Gymnastics NSW, but saw his relationship turn to tatters following his arrest at his west Sydney home in late-2021.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in February of this year, and will return before the court when Judge Justin Smith hands down his sentence at 9.30am on November 1.

The offences include seven counts of aggravated indecent assault of someone under 16 and four counts of sexual intercourse with some aged between 14 and 16.

He also faces three counts of assault with act of indecency, two of sexual intercourse without consent, and two counts of sexual touch without consent as related charges.