SHAY BESTER FROM JERSEY SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS FOR GROOMING AND RAPE OF VULNERABLE TEENAGER

In a case that has shocked the community of Jersey, Shay Bester, aged 47, has been handed a severe prison sentence of 17 years following his conviction for a series of heinous crimes involving a vulnerable teenage girl. The court heard how Bester, a man with a disturbing history of predatory behavior, meticulously groomed his young victim over an extended period before subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults upon her arrival on the island.

According to court proceedings, the victim, who is autistic, first encountered Bester through an online chat room. Over a span of six months, he engaged in a calculated grooming process, exploiting her loneliness and emotional vulnerability, which had been exacerbated by the isolation many experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The court was told that Bester’s manipulative tactics culminated in him purchasing a one-way flight from London to Jersey, effectively luring her to the island under false pretenses.

Once she arrived in Jersey, the victim was subjected to a series of traumatic experiences. Bester reportedly plied her with vodka, which he used to lower her inhibitions, before taking her to his flat in St Helier. There, he committed acts of sexual violence, including rape, over a period of 17 days. During this time, she was repeatedly assaulted, sexually coerced, and forced to write a letter falsely claiming her consent to the abuse she endured. The court was shown evidence of Bester’s extensive collection of indecent images—more than 2,500 in total, comprising both still photographs and video clips—found on two laptops, a mobile phone, and a hard disk seized from his residence.

Further disturbing evidence revealed that Bester forced his victim to pose for indecent images, which he later shared with members of an online group, highlighting his predilection for exploiting young girls. CCTV footage was presented in court, showing Bester slapping the girl in a car park in St Helier, as well as footage of her crying in distress with her mother present during police arrest at Bester’s flat. The police investigation uncovered that while Bester was under scrutiny, he attempted to deceive the victim by sending a text message from a new phone, claiming to be a police officer seeking to discuss the case.

Prosecutor Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit described the conduct as “deeply abhorrent,” emphasizing the victim’s vulnerability as an autistic girl. He highlighted the lasting impact of Bester’s actions, noting that her first sexual experience was a rape, which has led to panic attacks, distressing flashbacks, and traumatic memories that may affect her for the rest of her life. The court’s judgment reflected the severity of the crimes, with Bester receiving a total sentence of 17 years—15 years for the rapes, trafficking, and assaults, and an additional two years to be served consecutively for the possession and distribution of indecent images.

Judge Sir John Saunders, presiding over the case alongside Jurats Jerry Ramsden, Robert Christensen, Steven Austin-Vautier, Alison Opfermann, and Michael Berry, described the impact on the victim as “extremely severe.” He expressed hope that she might eventually recover and regain some semblance of normality, though he acknowledged that recovery was uncertain. The court also imposed a restraining order preventing Bester from contacting the victim, placed him on the Sexual Offenders Register for 20 years, and restricted his online activities to prevent further offenses.

Earlier in May 2023, Bester was found guilty of seven charges related to trafficking a “vulnerable” teenage girl to Jersey and raping her. The jury, which reached a unanimous verdict after nearly six hours of deliberation during a six-day trial at Jersey’s Royal Court, convicted him on counts including trafficking, multiple counts of rape, sexual penetration without consent, and assault. Bester had previously pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer, adding to the gravity of his criminal record. The authorities confirmed that Bester had met the girl, who was 17 at the time, online in November 2021, and had groomed her to come to Jersey, where he then subjected her to sexual and physical abuse. The victim was later seen at Dewberry House, the island’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, before returning to her family in the United Kingdom. The police seized several electronic devices from Bester’s residence during the investigation, which further exposed his disturbing pattern of behavior.