JOHN BATEMAN FROM COWES JAILED FOR ONLINE CHAT WITH '13-YEAR-OLD' GIRL
| Red Rose Database
Cowes Sexual Abuser
In October 2018, John Bateman, a resident of Cowes, was sentenced to 32 months in prison after being found guilty of breaching a sexual harm prevention order. This order had been previously imposed following his conviction for possessing extreme pornographic images, distributing indecent photographs, and possessing barred images of children. The breach occurred when Bateman engaged in online conversations with an individual claiming to be a 13-year-old girl, despite the restrictions placed upon him.
During a hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, it was revealed that Bateman admitted to violating the terms of the order by chatting with the purported minor through an application he later deleted from his mobile device. He argued, however, that he believed the person he was communicating with was actually an adult, not a minor. This claim was scrutinized by the court, which considered the circumstances of the case.
The court was informed that Bateman's actions constituted a breach of a two-year suspended sentence handed down at Winchester Crown Court on June 19. That earlier sentence was related to his possession of extreme pornographic images and barred images of children. Prosecutor Kelly Brocklehurst explained that Bateman had engaged in a conversation using an app with someone who claimed to be a 13-year-old schoolgirl. However, Bateman maintained that he thought he was speaking to another adult male pretending to be a young girl, a defense that the court carefully considered.
It was also noted that Bateman had recently moved to Cowes following his previous conviction. His social interactions had become limited, and he had turned to using the app, primarily for activities that were legal. The prosecution highlighted that Bateman was communicating with a fellow fantasist when he committed the offense.
According to the case details, officers arrived unannounced at Bateman's residence. In a moment of panic, he deleted the app from his phone in an attempt to conceal his activity. The court was told that this action was a direct response to the police visit, which underscored the seriousness of his breach and the need for a substantial custodial sentence.
During a hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, it was revealed that Bateman admitted to violating the terms of the order by chatting with the purported minor through an application he later deleted from his mobile device. He argued, however, that he believed the person he was communicating with was actually an adult, not a minor. This claim was scrutinized by the court, which considered the circumstances of the case.
The court was informed that Bateman's actions constituted a breach of a two-year suspended sentence handed down at Winchester Crown Court on June 19. That earlier sentence was related to his possession of extreme pornographic images and barred images of children. Prosecutor Kelly Brocklehurst explained that Bateman had engaged in a conversation using an app with someone who claimed to be a 13-year-old schoolgirl. However, Bateman maintained that he thought he was speaking to another adult male pretending to be a young girl, a defense that the court carefully considered.
It was also noted that Bateman had recently moved to Cowes following his previous conviction. His social interactions had become limited, and he had turned to using the app, primarily for activities that were legal. The prosecution highlighted that Bateman was communicating with a fellow fantasist when he committed the offense.
According to the case details, officers arrived unannounced at Bateman's residence. In a moment of panic, he deleted the app from his phone in an attempt to conceal his activity. The court was told that this action was a direct response to the police visit, which underscored the seriousness of his breach and the need for a substantial custodial sentence.