A married construction worker father of three from Warrington who repeatedly raped and sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for 21 years after being convicted of 16 offences.
A judge ruled that Andrew Bate is a dangerous offender and imposed an extended five years on licence.
Bate, aged 41, of Libson Close, Cinnamon Brow, Warrington, was convicted of 16 offences after a trial during which he denied the allegations.
Sentencing him Judge Stuart Driver, KC, said that Bate began sexually assaulting the girl when she was aged about ten and his behaviour escalated over about four years and involved repeatedly raping her.
He said his behaviour had had a severe psychological impact on his victim. “You present a high risk of serious harm to children,” added Judge Driver.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the offences came to light last year after the victim contacted Cheshire police.
In a harrowing impact statement the victim told how “crippling paranoia makes it hard to work and I struggle to form relationships.”
Karl Scholz, prosecuting, said that her statement also revealed that the abuse had set her on a self-destructive course and she suffers from PTSD, anxiety and depression.
She thinks about it every day and “now only sees the world through a dark lens.”
Bate, who was living with his wife and three young children when arrested, was convicted of eight rape offences, two of sexual assault and six of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
Jonathan Rogers, defending, said that the defendant had no previous convictions and was a full time construction worker.
Bate, who showed no reaction, will have to serve two thirds of the sentence and the judge imposed an Sexual Behaviour Prevention Order and a restraining order, both to run indefinitely.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Maurizio Lucchesi who led the investigation said:“Firstly, I want to praise the victim for the courage that they have shown throughout this investigation.
“Bate is clearly a sexual predator, whose only interest is to fulfil his own sexual gratification. He showed no regard for the victim and even when faced with all the evidence against him, he refused to plead guilty to any of the charges against him.
“Instead, he forced his victim to relive their experiences in court, which could not have been easy for them.
“Thankfully, as a result of the bravery of the victim, and the evidence we gathered, the jury have seen through his lies, and he is now being held accountable for his actions.
“I hope that the sentence handed to Bates will provide the victim with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives, knowing that he will never be able do the same to any other children.”
In addition to the custodial sentence Bate’s was ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for life.
Detective Constable Lucchesi added: “Nobody should have to experience what the victim has been though and if anything can come from this case, I hope that it encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.
“Cheshire Constabulary takes any allegation of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.
“Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to. They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”
To report any sexual offence, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/%20 .
In an emergency always call 999. Information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
