A BRAINTREE businessman billed the “Essex Richard Branson” has been locked up for two years after admitting gun offences.

John Benson, 55, who runs Benson School of Motoring, Benson Motorcycle Training and the Benson Bar and Hotel, all in Braintree, admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate, at Ipswich Crown Court last Monday.

The offences happened on June 21 at a property in Halstead.

A former employee, who the Times agreed not to identify, said: “Bensons are probably the best trainers around here. He’s a highly-respected businessman – he was the Essex equivalent of Richard Branson.

“I don’t think the majority of his firm know about what’s happened and he’s got over 100 instructors.

“I’ve known John for years and I’m quite surprised he’s daft enough to get caught.

“I never had a clue he had guns, he was always heavily into his cars but I had no idea about firearms.”

Another former employee said: “He’s got the driving school and you see them everywhere, you don’t go out without seeing a Benson car.

“He’s probably got a trail of enemies now.

“To people who don’t know him, it might be a shock.”

Benson, of Sugar Lane, Sible Hedingham, started his first business in Braintree in 1982 and opened Benson School of Motoring in 1993.

He appeared on Channel 4’s Four In A Bed show in 2010, where his hotel in Bradford Street won first place.

As well as running the bar and hotel, the motoring school, Benson Motorcycle Training and Benson Container and Open Storage, both based in Long Green, Cressing, Benson has a property business and a small-holding of pigs, sheep and poultry.

His driving instructors cover 35 towns across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and London.

Stephen Canning, district councillor for Bocking Blackwater, said: “The Benson brand is quite prominent in the area. Benson Bar is where I had my 18th birthday party and members of our family have used Benson School of Motoring – I’m sure the businesses will likely carry on and flourish.

“I think situations like this always come as a shock because Bocking is quite a close-knit area and we always think nothing much exciting goes on.

“Situations like this are a big surprise and remind us anyone is fallible and anyone can make mistakes, as long as we serve our time and repay our debt to society.”

Jo Beavis, district councillor for Hedingham ward, said: “I hope it doesn’t impact too badly on his services and the people that use them.

“All business is built up on reputation.

“We all know the rules of life and suffer the consequences if we don’t adhere to them.

“I hope it doesn’t reflect too much on him and his long-standing and reputable business.

“It’s pretty sad. He’s put a lot into the community.”

Staff at The Benson Bar and Benson School of Motoring declined to comment.