Court Sentences 'Vampire' Cultist in Church Carcass Case
Is Benjamin Lewis a disturbed individual or a deliberate religious terrorist?
Above: Southampton Crown Court in Southampton, U.K. Image credit: Chris Ison/PA Images/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Thanks to the efforts of Hampshire Police, Benjamin Lewis is now indefinitely detained under a hospital order. Not only will this guarantee Lewis the treatment he needs to recover from his significant mental health challenges, but also, crucially, the safety and well-being of his victims, some of whom were left so traumatized they could no longer attend church.
Narrative B
Benjamin Lewis wasn't just disturbed; he was a self-described Satanist who believed drinking blood would extend his life and deliberately targeted Catholic churches with animal killings and other occult symbols like inverted crosses and tarot cards. Rather than some random misconduct, this was a deliberate campaign of fear and religious desecration.