KE LI TIMPERLEY BUS PERVERT ESCAPES JAIL AFTER GROPING SCHOOLGIRLS

In November 2010, a disturbing case involving a young man from Timperley who targeted schoolgirls on public buses has garnered significant attention. Ke Li, aged 19, was involved in a series of unsettling incidents where he followed young female passengers onto buses, sat beside them, and engaged in inappropriate physical contact by rubbing their thighs.

Li, a tall individual standing at 6 feet 5 inches and a straight-A student studying physics, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault during proceedings at Trafford magistrates court. Despite the severity of his actions, he was not sentenced to prison but was instead given a community order. The court heard that Li had admitted to carrying out these assaults over a period of five years, raising concerns that there may be many more victims who have yet to come forward.

The incidents in question occurred twice in February, with Li approaching and sitting next to his victims on separate occasions. In each case, he touched their thighs, leaving the girls terrified and unable to confront him directly. Fortunately, all three victims reported the incidents to the police. One of the victims managed to discreetly photograph Li using her mobile phone, a crucial piece of evidence that helped authorities identify him. Prosecutor Jo Palmiero explained that police examined the photograph alongside CCTV footage from the buses, which ultimately led to Li’s arrest.

Li, who was studying at Manchester University at the time, was taken into custody following the police investigation. His defense lawyer, Bryan McMahon, explained to the court that Li had a specific fetish for tights. McMahon described Li as ‘socially immature’ and suggested that his misunderstanding of consent stemmed from the victims not explicitly saying ‘no.’ He emphasized that this was Li’s first offense and highlighted his background as a former Sale Grammar School pupil who played the piano and was considered to have a promising future.

During the court hearing, Li, whose parents were present, expressed remorse for his actions and stated that he had sought counseling. He pleaded for a second chance, saying, “If you give me a second chance I’ll make sure I don’t do it again.”

As part of his sentence, Li was ordered to complete 180 hours of one-to-one community work, attend a sex offenders’ treatment program, and pay costs of £75. The magistrates’ chairman, Andrew Bowen, addressed Li directly, emphasizing the importance of this moment as a pivotal point in his life. Bowen stated, “This is quite clearly a crossroads in your life. You will get support and this is the way forward. You should take it and do everything you can to prevent a reoccurrence.” Additionally, Li was mandated to register as a sex offender.

Detective Constable Jon Weir commented on the case, revealing that during police interviews, Li admitted to regularly assaulting schoolgirls and women over the past four or five years. However, Weir noted that no other incidents had been reported, possibly because victims considered the incidents too minor to report. He urged anyone who believed they had been subjected to similar sexual assaults to contact the police at 0161 872 5050 or to report anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.