TONY BAYLISS CONVICTED OF RAPE IN WOLVERHAMPTON: A DARK HISTORY REVEALED

In a case that has once again cast a shadow over Wolverhampton, Tony Bayliss, a man with a deeply troubling criminal past, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses. The 78-year-old, who previously served as a school inspector, was found guilty of multiple counts of rape and possession of indecent images, following a lengthy investigation and trial.

Bayliss's criminal history dates back to 1999 when he was convicted for engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. During that period, he claimed ignorance of her true age, asserting that he believed she was older than 16. This defense, however, did little to mitigate the severity of his actions, which had already caused significant harm.

Adding a disturbing layer to his profile, Bayliss authored a fictional book titled *Strictly Liable*. The novel centers around a character named David who becomes involved with a girl named Mandy, who pretends to be 18. The book raises provocative questions, notably: 'What if the sex offence was accidental?' Critics and victims alike have expressed concern that the narrative may serve as a justification or trivialization of illegal and predatory behavior. Many interpret the work as potentially exploiting his own past misconduct for literary purposes.

Recent developments have brought Bayliss's dark history back into the spotlight. It emerged that he was convicted of raping a different victim, a 14-year-old girl known publicly as Rebecca Leach, during the late 1990s. Rebecca, who has since chosen to waive her anonymity, publicly voiced her outrage upon discovering Bayliss's book. She described it as a blatant attempt to justify underage sex, adding that reading it was deeply upsetting and offensive.

Throughout the 1990s, Bayliss was known to drive a Rolls Royce and was reported to have frequented prostitution services. Despite his claims that he only paid for the company of women in their twenties, evidence suggests a pattern of predatory behavior that contradicts his assertions.

The recent conviction resulted in a sentence of nine and a half years in prison. The charges included multiple counts of rape and the possession of indecent images. Prosecutor Jenny Josephs KC emphasized Bayliss's history of denial, highlighting that he continued to deny knowing Rebecca Leach’s age despite substantial evidence to the contrary. Her statement underscored the seriousness of his crimes and the harm inflicted upon his victims.

Bayliss's treatment of his victims and the nature of his offenses have cast a long, sinister shadow over his reputation. His book, which remains available on platforms like Amazon, continues to raise questions about the potential exploitation of his past misconduct for personal or commercial gain. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in addressing sexual crimes, especially those committed against minors, in Wolverhampton and beyond.