Southend: Specialist officers ensure man convicted of ill-treating children

Work by specialist detectives have ensured a man who mistreated four children is now facing prison.

Ben Atthis was arrested in March 2019 after the children disclosed the abuse they had been subjected to.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court Atthis, 34, of no fixed address, Southend was convicted on Thursday 10 February of four counts of wilfully ill-treating a child to cause unnecessary suffering.

Atthis’ girlfriend, Lissa Field, had admitted the same charges in 2019.

They will both be sentenced at a later date.

Investigating officer Temporary Detective Sergeant Emma-Louise Bailey, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:

“It is three years since these offences were reported to us and I’m glad we’ve finally achieved justice for the children involved.
“They have great courage in disclosing the abuse they faced and shown such maturity in handling the wait until Atthis went to court.
“I want to praise the bravery they have shown during the trial where they were all cross examined.
“Their determination to stop the cycle of abuse which they had endured for far too long means Ben Atthis and Lissa Field are now facing time behind bars.”