Conor Benn opens up on childhood trauma attending religious school where fighter was accused of being 'possessed by demons'

Conor Benn has laid bare the trauma he faced as a youngster while attending a religious school who he claims believed he was possessed by demons.

The 29-year-old, who is looking to avenge his only professional defeat when he faces Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday evening, has opened up on the distressing period of his life that had him fearing the imminent arrival of 'the anti-Christ'.

Born to extremely religious parents, Benn and his siblings were moved to the Balearic Island of Mallorca as young children as his two-time boxing world champion father Nigel sought out a fresh start.

They moved into 'a beautiful mansion' and appeared - from afar at least - to have an idyllic life after Nigel's success in the ring. 

But as his parents embraced an evangelical life, Benn was sent to a fundamentalist private Christian school which would go on to destroy his relationship with his father in the years to come.

'They believed I had demons in me as a kid, the school,' Benn told the BBC.

'For me that was really hard to try and understand because I look at my son and I go, "How could anyone think that there's anything wrong with you because you may be a little bit energetic, because you can't sit still in class?". To the point where they believe, "Yeah, you’ve got demons in you." That was the hardest thing to understand.'

Benn said the experience, which happened when he was just 12 years old, led him to wake up every morning 'not knowing whether the anti-Christ was here'.

He added: 'Looking back - because I don't often reflect on it - you think it's pretty evil.'

The boxer also found it difficult to speak to his parents about his troubles due to the pastors being in a 'position of power' and wielding certain influence over their thinking.

It led to his relationship with his father - who took up religion following a tumultuous personal period after his retirement - deteriorating over the years as a result. 

Nigel had hung up his gloves in November 1996 after a second consecutive loss to Steve Collins, before facing a raft of difficulties such as sex addiction and attempting to take his own life.

Benn had also struggled in the years after his traumatic time at the school, and after getting into trouble in Australia - where he moved aged 18 - sought the help of his father and they began gently mending things.

The 29-year-old married his wife, who he shares two children with, eight years ago and it was then that he realised he needed to fully confront his mental wounds through therapy.

What followed in the years since, Benn told the BBC, were 'a lot of tears' and brutally honest conversations with his father. The boxer now refers to Nigel as his 'hero' who was 'always my hero'.

He remains a devout Christian and dedicates time to pray every day, saying 'I'm not letting them take away from what I believe'.

• For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details