A supplementary evaluation was undertaken with Mr Simon Bennett. To formulate the nature of his difficulties, he has grown up under problematic circumstances with his parents' separation, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, and experiences of neglect. By his mid teens he had problems with his own behaviour and substance abuse.
Mr Bennett was taken in by Dr David Kings and his wife in a form of rehabilitation. Nevertheless, Mr Bennett was sexually abused by Dr Kings and was exposed to substantial emotional manipulation. The sexual abuse has led to personality problems over time, with associated alcohol abuse and dependency and some drug use. There is evidence of disrupted mental state in his late 20s with some suicidality and paranoia.
The sexual abuse is clearly the primary trigger for Mr Bennett's personality disorder with borderline features. As with many individuals with such a disorder, his behavioural disturbance related to the current offending appears to be directly caused by his personality functioning and exacerbated by situational factors, especially the reporting of Dr Kings to the medical board and Dr Kings' subsequent suicide. Mr Bennett's mental state deteriorated in this context, and his substance abuse.
It is inevitable, in my opinion, that the sexual and emotional abuse experienced by Mr Bennett has led, by way of his disturbed personality functioning and substance abuse, to the current offending. Since incarceration, it is clear that Mr Bennett has had time to be able to gain greater insight into his own difficulties. He has sound employment possibilities with having worked previously in various areas in the past, as well as having his real estate licence. He is a man of average intelligence, however, he requires significant treatment to deal with both the issues of his past and his ongoing personality functioning. He requires intensive psychological treatment following a cognitive behavioural and dialectical behaviour therapy model with an experienced clinical psychologist with expertise in the area of treatment of personality disorders. He is unlikely to be able to receive such treatment in incarceration, but the treatment would be available on his release. I am able to suggest treatment providers.
Clearly, Mr Bennett's prognosis without substance abuse has markedly improved. He appears to have insight into the importance of him remaining substance free, and this is a positive feature and reflects on his ability to use his intelligence to work his way through what are very difficult problems.
Mr Bennett is a man with borderline rather than antisocial personality features, and a person for whom his mental health functioning is central to the stability of his behaviour.