Former soldier and sex offender Adrien Bell’s volunteer work sparks concern

Former soldier Adrien Bell was sentenced for secretly filming young people and is now volunteering at Just Zilch in Palmerston North. Photo / Jimmy Ellingham, RNZ

By Jimmy Ellingham of RNZ

There are concerns a former soldier sentenced to home detention for filming young people using a bathroom over the space of six years is now volunteering at a Palmerston North food rescue charity.

Adrien Bell, who also goes by the surname Bennett, has volunteered at Just Zilch since the New Year break.

Just Zilch takes donations from local suppliers, such as supermarkets and cafes, and distributes the food to people in need.

It’s understood other volunteers weren’t initially told of Bell’s history, although some are now aware.

Just Zilch said it can’t comment on individual volunteers but it was important to properly address concerns.

Open Justice reported in 2024 that Bell, a former Army Corporal, was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention after he admitted one charge each of committing an indecent act on a young person and possessing an intimate visual recording, and two charges of making an intimate visual recording.

A court summary said Bell put a hidden camera in a bathroom of a home, capturing images of naked people between 2014 and 2020. One of the victims was a girl aged 11-13 and others were in their teens.

Videos of them were found on Bell’s laptop, Open Justice reported.

A Just Zilch volunteer, who RNZ has agreed not to name because of worries they would lose their position at the charity, said Bell hadn’t caused problems with his behaviour there.

But they felt his presence around vulnerable people – volunteers and people who received food donations – was a concern. They said young people would also volunteer at Just Zilch and work at its Featherston St location, in central Palmerston North, at the same time as Bell.

The volunteer was told by a fellow charity worker who Bell was and to Google the Open Justice story, which was also published on the RNZ website.

“It was like, ‘Oh my god’. I knew I had seen that story. I knew when I saw him that I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn’t think where.

“He makes no secret of the fact he’s ex-Army, but there’s no story as to why he gave up the Army.

“Basically, every day I do a shift the Army comes up in conversation.”

Another former volunteer told RNZ they wouldn’t feel comfortable with Bell’s presence.

In a statement to RNZ, Just Zilch board chairwoman Angela Rowan said: “While we’re unable to comment on individual Just Zilch employees or volunteers because of privacy reasons, given the nature of these concerns it is incredibly important to us that they are addressed properly in a way that respects all people involved.

“The safety of our volunteers, employees and clients is a non-negotiable.

“We balance our obligations to our people with our kaupapa and mission to minimise waste and support food security in our community, while upholding our values of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, without judgment, and justice.”

RNZ asked about the charity’s policies and procedures for vetting volunteers.

“We have identified ways to improve how we onboard people, and are working with professional advisers to support this mahi,” Rowan said.

Open Justice reported that Bell was no longer working for the Army by the time he was sentenced.

He could not be reached for comment.

– RNZ