JOSHUA BATE, NOW KNOWN AS LILY, SENTENCED IN DURHAM FOR SEX OFFENCES
A convicted sex offender, who was taken in by a woman in an effort to give him a fresh start after his release from prison, attempted to coax her 12-year-old daughter into snuggling with him on the sofa on his first night there, a court heard.Joshua Bate, who now identifies as female and goes by the name Lily, was previously sentenced to seven years in 2015 for the rape of a young woman after breaking into her flat and removing her clothing.
Durham Crown Court was told that following his release on licence, Bate sexually assaulted a schoolgirl on a bus and was later sentenced in 2020 to an additional six months in jail, while also serving the remainder of his original sentence.
Prosecutor Chris Baker stated that Bate was released from prison in the Midlands on New Year’s Eve.
After joining a Facebook group, he was invited to stay at a woman’s home in County Durham, who believed he/she should be given a chance.
Bate traveled by train north and was met by the woman at Durham station before coming to stay at her house on January 3.
The plan was for Bate to sleep on the sofa and not go upstairs where the woman’s daughters were sleeping.
Mr.
Baker explained that on the first night, the woman's 12-year-old daughter entered her mother’s bedroom and showed her messages from a phone registered under the name Lily.
These messages invited the girl to sneak downstairs and cuddle under the covers with Bate, lying face to face.
Bate also asked the girl, “Do you mind if my hands wander and we kiss on the lips?
Don’t feel awkward.
This is our secret.” Further messages instructed her to come downstairs only if her sisters were asleep.
The girl responded that Bate was a paedophile and blocked further messages.
Upon seeing the messages, the girl’s mother got out of bed, contacted the police, and confronted Bate, who was then arrested.
During police interview, Bate admitted to sending the messages, stating they were sexually motivated.
He expressed regret, claiming that any sexual activity would have been limited to kissing and cuddling but acknowledged being a risk to children and that he might not be able to control himself in their presence.
The girl’s mother told the court in her victim statement that she now regrets the quick decision to allow Bate to stay at her home.
She said, “He says he wishes to change sex and identity.
He’s a sex offender no matter what changes he makes.
I feel he’s a danger to everybody, especially vulnerable people and younger girls.” Bate, aged 25 and currently detained at HMP Durham, pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
Defence barrister Peter Sabiston acknowledged that Bate had not tried to downplay his misconduct, and that there was clear remorse upon confrontation.
He described the incident as a simple, short grooming incident with limited sexual contact, not involving serious or penetrative activity.
Judge Ray Singh stated that Bate poses a significant risk of serious offending.
He imposed an extended custodial sentence of 40 months to protect the public, meaning Bate must serve at least two-thirds of this term before being eligible for parole and could serve the full sentence.
Upon release, Bate will be subject to a five-year extended licence.
Additionally, Bate was subject to a lifetime restraining order regarding the girl, indefinite registration as a sex offender, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, all of which are indefinite.
