LESLEY BATES SENTENCED IN DOVER FOR DECADES-APART CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the community of Dover, Leslie Bates, a man with a disturbing history of abusing children over a span of more than thirty years, has been sentenced to a total of ten years in prison for his heinous crimes.

Leslie Bates, who is approaching his 63rd birthday while serving his sentence, appeared before Canterbury Crown Court to face the consequences of his actions. The court was told that Bates, a former merchant seaman, had a long history of offending, with his first known attack occurring in 1979. Despite the passage of time, his crimes only came to light after police investigations into a series of attacks on another nine-year-old girl.

During the court proceedings, Bates was confronted with a direct question: “How could you do that to an innocent nine-year-old?” To which he responded with a chilling remark: “She is not as innocent as she looks!” His appearance in court was marked by a neck brace, a result of a broken neck sustained during a prison altercation while awaiting sentencing. His legal representative, barrister Jason Dunn-Shaw, explained that Bates had suffered this injury in a prison fight, adding a layer of complexity to his current situation.

The prosecution, led by Vivian Walters, detailed the disturbing timeline of Bates’s offenses. She revealed that Bates’s first known assault took place in 1979, but the incident was not reported to authorities until years later, when police began investigating a series of attacks on another young girl. Bates, who owns properties in both the UK and France, admitted to committing eleven sexual offenses against his two victims. However, charges related to the downloading of child abuse images, which he denied, remained unresolved and were left on the case file.

Further details emerged when the second victim’s ordeal was disclosed in November, during a medical consultation for stress. The victim’s account was particularly troubling, as she claimed that Bates had inappropriately blamed her for being sexual towards him, a statement that underscores the disturbing nature of his mindset.

In his defense, Bates’s legal team acknowledged that there was no justification for his actions. Dunn-Shaw emphasized that Bates felt shame for his crimes, although his immediate reactions when questioned about his offenses appeared to contradict this remorse. The defense also highlighted Bates’s prior injury, noting that many individuals fear prison due to the potential for violence, and that his broken neck was a consequence of a previous attack.

Judge Adele Williams addressed Bates directly, condemning his lack of insight into the gravity of his offenses. She stated, “You unhappily have no insight into your offending, or very little. You, in effect, blamed the child for being sexual towards you. That thinking is perverted and distorted. You do not begin, in my judgment, to realize the harm you have caused. I have no doubt the effects on your victims have been traumatic and will be long lasting. You robbed them both of their innocence.”

As a result of his crimes, Bates was sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional five years on extended license, reflecting the court’s view that he posed “a significant risk” to children in the future. Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Offender’s Prevention Order and was ordered to remain on the Sex Offender’s Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and restrictions to protect potential future victims.