JONATHAN BATES, MILITARY VETERAN FROM NEWQUAY, SENTENCED FOR ONLINE STALKING AND HARASSMENT

A military veteran with a distinguished service record has been convicted of a series of malicious and calculated online stalking and harassment offences. The court heard that Jonathan Bates, from RAF St Mawgan near Newquay, employed advanced techniques to create fake pornographic accounts by stealing victims' photographs from Facebook and Instagram. He then placed these images onto nude bodies on adult websites. Additionally, Bates gathered personal details from professional platforms like LinkedIn and incorporated this information into the fake profiles, which were designed to shame and intimidate his victims.

Bates admitted guilt to four counts of stalking that caused significant alarm or distress, committed between 2017 and 2022, along with a charge of disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual images to cause distress concerning one individual. The court recognized his conduct as among the worst cases of stalking they had encountered, noting the level of planning and technical skill involved in his deliberate efforts to instill fear and humiliation.

Prosecutor Stuart Allen explained that Bates would create relationships with victims in order to gather personal information, access their social media accounts to steal images, and then use these images to craft fake profiles with lurid descriptions claiming the victims offered new sexual services. One victim recounted that she was approached at her home by a stranger rebuking her for missing a meeting, while another was confronted by individuals asking about her online advertisements.

It was also revealed that Bates attempted to gaslight victims when confronted, claiming his computer had been hacked. However, police later discovered USB sticks containing evidence of hundreds of women’s photos and personal details.

Several victims shared their lasting distress, with one stating, "The effect on my life and my career has been profound. I have lost valuable time with my daughter and have felt too scared to leave my house." Another victim shared, “I do not know what I did to deserve this. My professional reputation was tarnished, and I had to leave my job.” They expressed ongoing fears that their images continue to circulate online indefinitely, causing continued harm.

During mitigation, Bates’s lawyer, Deni Mathews, highlighted his military service, including deployment in war zones, and his subsequent PTSD. She suggested that his military background may have contributed to his insensitivity regarding the repercussions of his actions. It was also noted that Bates had not reoffended since 2022 and expressed remorse.

Nevertheless, the judge, Mr. Carr, underscored the gravity of the case, describing it as one of the worst of its kind he had seen. He sentenced Bates to five years in prison and imposed a ten-year restraining order. The judge emphasized that despite Bates’s service, his deliberate targeting of women for personal gratification caused unfixable harm, with images and profiles on the internet likely to remain forever.