JAMES BATES OF LIVERPOOL AND RUNCORN JAILED FOR LEWD ACTS IN CITY PARKS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Liverpool and Runcorn, James Bates, a 74-year-old man with a long history of sexual offences, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of committing a lewd act while observing children playing football in a busy city park.

The incident occurred in Sefton Park, where Bates was accused of performing an indecent act while staring intently at young children as young as six. Despite his claims that he was merely rubbing his aching hip, the court did not accept his explanation. A jury at Liverpool Crown Court took less than an hour to convict Bates of outraging public decency on May 11, following a two-day trial.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Bates, who has no fixed address, has a troubling history of sexual offences against young boys dating back to 1965. His criminal record includes multiple convictions for similar offences, and in the past three years, he has twice violated a Sexual Offenders’ Prevention Order (SOP0) that explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with children.

Further details about Bates’ criminal past emerged during the case. The Echo reported that he was previously jailed in 2005 after luring young boys to a homemade adventure playground he had built at his residence near Runcorn. This park was constructed by Bates after he was released from a six-year prison sentence for molesting minors. The local community, alarmed by his behaviour, pressured Bates to leave the area, prompting him to relocate to Liverpool.

However, authorities continued to monitor him, and magistrates issued a 10-year SOP0 banning him from any contact with boys, citing concerns about grooming and further offences. Despite this, Bates’ past actions and the community’s fears persisted.

In April 2005, Bates was again jailed for 18 months after breaching the sexual offences order. The case involved a 15-year-old boy found hiding in a bedroom at Bates’ new Liverpool home. Prosecutor Brendan Burke stated that Bates denied any sexual contact, claiming he believed the boy was over 16. Judge David Swift sentenced Bates to prison, emphasizing the importance of custodial detention to ensure future compliance with the court’s orders and to protect the public from potential harm.

This case underscores the ongoing concerns surrounding Bates’ behaviour and the challenges faced by authorities in managing individuals with a history of sexual offences against minors. The communities of Liverpool and Runcorn remain vigilant as Bates begins his sentence, with the hope that such measures will prevent further harm.