In 2013, the Offender Database reported that Robert Bate, then 37, of Lancers Croft, Great Sutton, Cheshire, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. On 23 July 2013, Bate appeared at Chester Crown Court for “vicious” sexual assaults on a 14-year-old girl he had targeted through the internet.
The investigation established that in early 2002, Bate, who was 26 at the time, groomed the victim online before meeting her in various car parks in Ellesmere Port and Frodsham. The prosecution reported that he performed “vile” sexual acts on the child and forced her to perform acts on him, which left her “embarrassed and scared.” The meetings had a “serious” psychological impact on the victim, eventually leading to an attempted suicide. The case came to light after Bate received a caution for possessing 39 “abhorrent” indecent images of children.
Judicial Findings and Impact
Judge Elgan Edwards, the Recorder of Chester, emphasised that the case represented “every parent’s nightmare.” The court reported that Bate was fully aware of the girl’s age but continued the “vicious” abuse until the victim’s mother intervened. The prosecution emphasised that when the victim tried to reduce contact, Bate became “vile” and abusive. Despite the defence claiming an “error of judgment,” the judge emphasised that the “disgusting” nature of the assaults on a 14-year-old necessitated an immediate custodial term.
The prosecution emphasised that the “serious” nature of the grooming was exacerbated by the defendant’s possession of child pornography. The judge noted that the “vile” exploitation of the victim’s vulnerability had caused “immeasurable” harm. For his crimes in Great Sutton and Ellesmere Port, the court determined that Bate must be strictly prohibited from accessing platforms where he could target further victims.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Cheshire, Robert Bate was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 15 months in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for 10 years.
- Prohibitions: Banned from using internet chatrooms.
- Disqualification: Barred from working with children for life.
- Convictions: Admitted three counts of indecent assault on a child.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bate was managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Cheshire Constabulary. His history of “persistent” grooming and the “vicious” nature of the assaults meant his status remained under “stringent” scrutiny by authorities in Great Sutton.
As a registered sex offender, Bate was required to comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Great Sutton, Cheshire. Authorities state that his lifelong disqualification from working with children is a “critical” tool for public safety. Any breach of his registration conditions or his chatroom ban following his release from prison would have resulted in his immediate return to Chester Crown Court.
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