RONALD BARTHOLOMEW SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR RAPE IN SCARBOROUGH AND WAINSCOTT

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Scarborough and Wainscott, Ronald Bartholomew has been sentenced to serve 18 years in prison after being convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed nearly four decades ago. The court heard how Bartholomew, a man with a troubling history of indecency convictions, committed these crimes against two young girls in the late 1970s, with the abuse taking place in secluded areas around Blue Bell Hill.

Bartholomew, who was formerly residing in Wainscott, admitted to two counts of rape and nine counts of indecent assault. The court was told that his actions included threatening one of his victims with death while taking her and two other girls to a wooded area in Blue Bell Hill, where he isolated her and subjected her to sexual assault. The severity of his misconduct was underscored by the judge, Jeremy Carey, who described the offenses as being carried out in the most invasive and disgusting manner.

During the proceedings at Maidstone Crown Court, it was revealed that one of the victims had initially reported her abuse to authorities when she was 18, but the case was not pursued at that time. Prosecutor Amanda Hamilton detailed how Bartholomew would often play with the girls, giving them piggyback rides that served as opportunities for molestation. One particularly disturbing incident involved him taking one girl for a drive to a remote location, where he stripped her of her clothes, including her swimming costume, and raped her forcefully. The victim was described as terrified, screaming for help, only to be silenced by Bartholomew who covered her mouth and threatened to kill her.

Witnesses recounted how a passerby on horseback once inquired if everything was alright, to which Bartholomew responded affirmatively, claiming he was searching for two other children. The girl, visibly shocked, was described as looking like a “startled baby.” She chose not to disclose her ordeal immediately, fearing retaliation, but eventually confided in a teacher during a lesson about stranger danger and abduction. When police arrived at her home, her mother dismissed her claims, labeling her as a liar.

Further testimonies revealed that Bartholomew repeatedly assaulted and raped another girl, threatening her with death if she ever told anyone. After the assault, she was found crying silently and sucking her thumb on the floor. The court heard that Bartholomew’s criminal history included a three-year sentence in 1975 for attempted grievous bodily harm after stabbing a woman with a knife with intent to kill. He also served six months in the previous year for molesting a woman and four months in 1988 for indecent assault on a girl in a garage.

Both victims expressed how these traumatic experiences robbed them of their childhoods. One victim, who was assaulted at Blue Bell Hill, stated that she never wore a swimsuit again because of what happened. Judge Jeremy Carey, who listened to the case with the aid of a hearing loop, described the offenses as “appalling sexual wrongdoing” and emphasized the lasting impact on the victims. One victim remarked, “No amount of words can describe what he did to me all those years ago,” haunted by the memories for nearly 40 years.

The judge acknowledged that Bartholomew had led an apparently unblemished life since the late 1980s but stressed the gravity of his crimes. As Bartholomew, now 67, listened with support from the dock rail, Judge Carey stated that the seriousness of his offenses warranted a significant sentence. Consequently, he ordered that Bartholomew serve half of his prison term before being considered for parole, with an additional year added as a license period. Furthermore, a sexual harm prevention order was issued, and Bartholomew’s name will be permanently listed on the sex offenders’ register, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions for the rest of his life.