JOHN BATEMAN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BROMLEY: A CASE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE REVEALED

In June 2006, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse came to light involving John Bateman, a 76-year-old man from Bromley. Bateman was convicted of a series of heinous crimes that spanned over a decade, during which he subjected three young girls to unimaginable acts of sexual violence and exploitation.

Bateman, who resided on Bromley Road in Bromley, pleaded guilty to a total of 27 charges, including multiple counts of rape and indecent assault. His actions, which took place over a period of approximately 12 years, have been described as some of the most severe cases of sexual abuse involving children in recent years. The court heard that Bateman had manipulated the girls into calling him 'granddad,' creating an emotional bond that he then exploited for his own depraved purposes.

The victims, who were just 12 and 13 years old when the abuse began, sought refuge at Bateman’s home during times of trouble in their own families. Prosecutor Tim Hunter detailed the extent of Bateman’s cruelty, revealing that he groped, raped, and used various objects—including a rolling pin and a cucumber—on his victims. The assaults persisted from 1993 until 2005, with the girls enduring ongoing trauma.

One of the girls recounted how Bateman built an emotional dependency by telling her that her parents hated her and that no future husband would want her if she was inexperienced. Between the ages of 14 and 16, she was subjected to repeated rapes. The second girl described how Bateman allowed her to drink alcohol, which she said made her feel 'paralytic.' She recalled consuming five double vodkas and passing out on a bed, describing the alcohol as a kind of anesthetic that dulled her awareness of the abuse. She also revealed that Bateman used a cucumber and later larger objects like a rolling pin during their encounters.

Further details emerged about Bateman’s threats to silence the victims. He reportedly threatened to kill himself in his car if they disclosed what was happening. The second girl explained that her only relief came from self-harming, as she believed that hurting herself was the only way to cope with the pain. She expressed a misguided hope that she could make Bateman, whom she saw as a grandfather figure, happy.

Bateman’s manipulative behavior extended to buying an engagement ring for the third girl and maintaining weekly contact until his arrest on November 3 of the previous year. During sentencing at Croydon Crown Court, Judge Simon Pratt condemned Bateman’s actions, stating, “This is one of the nastiest cases of sexual abuse of children I have come across in recent years.” The judge held up a confidential report, telling Bateman, “Let him read this so he will know the evil and damage he has done. He will have several years to consider it.”

In his remarks, Judge Pratt emphasized that although Bateman was not a blood relative, the girls regarded him as a grandfather figure, which made his betrayal even more egregious. The court also disqualified Bateman from working with children for life and ordered him to register as a sex offender, marking the culmination of a case that has left a lasting scar on the victims and the community of Bromley.