BOB BATE FROM DUDLEY AND WYCOMBE JAILED AGAIN FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING CHILDREN

In a disturbing case that has once again brought to light the heinous nature of child exploitation, Bob Bate, a former councillor with ties to Dudley and Wycombe, has been sentenced to additional time behind bars for serious sex offences involving minors. This case underscores the ongoing battle against individuals who abuse positions of trust to indulge in illegal and morally reprehensible activities.

Bob Bate, who has a long history of criminal behavior related to child abuse images, was initially convicted in 2012. At that time, he was found guilty of possessing thousands of disturbing images and videos depicting young children and animals. The court heard that the material included photographs of children as young as six months old up to 16 years old. Judge Simon Davis, presiding over the case, described the images as “the most horrible, moving, and dreadful” he had ever encountered. Bate, then a Wycombe District Council Conservative whip and chairman of Hazlemere Parish Council, was sentenced to three years in prison for these offenses.

Following his conviction, Bate was released after serving 19 months. As part of his release conditions, he was required to have 'risk management' software installed on his home computers, which police monitored to prevent further illegal activity. Despite these measures, Bate resumed his offending behavior shortly after his release. In June 2014, police officers, utilizing the monitoring software, detected that he had downloaded additional indecent images of children onto his laptop. The images included children as young as six years old. This discovery prompted a police visit to his residence on August 12, 2014, during which his laptop was seized for further examination.

During the court proceedings, Bate claimed that his interest in nudism was the reason behind his downloads, asserting he was not seeking illegal images intentionally. However, the prosecution strongly argued that his actions demonstrated blatant disregard for the court’s previous orders and a continued pattern of offending. The evidence presented showed that Bate had no intention of stopping his illegal activities, despite the restrictions placed upon him.

In his defense, Bate’s lawyer, Tim Greaves, acknowledged that Bate initially denied the allegations during police interviews, claiming his interest was purely naturist-related and accidental. Greaves admitted that Bate now recognized the severity of his problem and his sexual attraction to young girls. He also highlighted that Bate had not been able to access treatment programs while incarcerated, which he described as “harrowing” and “frightening” for the former councillor, preventing him from coming to terms with his actions.

Judge John Cole, sitting at Amersham Crown Court, emphasized the gravity of Bate’s repeated offenses. He pointed out that Bate’s history of 27 admitted offenses contributed to the ongoing harm inflicted upon vulnerable children. The judge stated, “These are offenses that give the very fuel and lifeblood to the sickening torture of young children. Just as handling stolen goods allows burglars the chance to offend, it’s people like you who keep this sickening industry very much alive and flourishing.”

As a result of his latest conviction, Bate was sentenced to an additional nine months in prison. He was already on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, but the court extended this requirement for a concurrent period of ten years. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his laptop to prevent further misuse of evidence.

Bob Bate’s criminal history extends beyond his convictions. He moved to Hazlemere in 1983 and became involved in local politics, serving as a parish councillor from 1991 and holding the position of chairman for three years. He was elected as a district councillor in July 2002. After his initial conviction, Bate’s name was removed from the Hazlemere Parish Council chain, although it was later re-added during his tenure as chairman. The council’s decision to keep his name on the chain was met with controversy, with some members arguing that his private actions should not reflect on the council’s reputation.

In September 2013, discussions arose about removing Bate’s name from the chain altogether. The council initially decided to keep his name on a gold plate attached to the chain but agreed to revisit the matter in six months. Critics argued that his private misconduct was entirely separate from his public duties, but the debate highlighted the ongoing discomfort within the community regarding his past.

At the time of his arrest, Bate was residing in Dudley. His criminal activities and subsequent convictions have cast a long shadow over his reputation, with many questioning the moral responsibilities of local authorities in handling such cases. The court’s decision to extend his sentence and impose strict monitoring measures underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats offenses involving the exploitation of children. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for continuous efforts to protect society’s most vulnerable from predators like Bob Bate.