A paedophile sex offender, Christopher Bates, characterised by a court as “the living embodiment of every woman and girl’s nightmare,” will spend the remainder of his life incarcerated following an attempted rape of a teenage girl.
Her Honour Judge Kidd stated to Christopher Bates, “you are the very reason parents caution girls on self-defense,” as she sentenced him to life imprisonment at Teesside Crown Court yesterday (June 26).
Christopher Bates assaulted the girl when she was walking in Eldon Woods, near Bishop Auckland, on the afternoon of April 10 of this year.
The 37-year-old feigned disorientation and solicited her for directions to exit the woods before engaging in a sexual act on himself.
The frightened girl fled, but Christopher Bates apprehended her, forcing her to the ground and attempting to assault her sexually.
In an effort to deter him, the child informed Christopher Bates that she was 10 years old, to which he responded, “I don’t care,” and persisted with his assault.
She successfully called out to a passerby for assistance, prompting Bates to from the area.
The police were summoned, and Christopher Bates was apprehended in the woods shortly thereafter.
He was charged with attempted rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, which he confessed to, and was remanded in custody until punishment.
Christopher Bates, from Kirk Merrington, was sentenced to life imprisonment in court yesterday.
In her conclusion, the court commended the bystander for her assistance in aiding the young child and ensuring her safety.
In a victim impact statement, the mother of the kid stated: “The incident has profoundly affected my daughter.” She once engaged in lengthy walks for hours; now, I am fortunate if she ventures outside for ten minutes.
“As a family it’s hard to watch her go through this as she has started taking it out on me and her sibling. She has started to become aggressive towards us as she doesn’t know why it’s happened to her.
“When we go shopping, if a man comes past her, she starts to get scared, hiding behind her dad and we then have to leave the shops and go home.
“The woods used to be her safe place. However, she is so afraid she cannot go there anymore.”
Detective Constable Dave Taylor, from South Durham CID, led the investigation. He said: “This was an appalling and horrific crime that will have a significant and profound impact on the young girl for many years to come.
“Christopher Bates targeted a young, vulnerable girl in a secluded, isolated area in a very predatory way which showed clear evidence of pre-planning.
“He poses a significant risk to lone women and girls which is reflected in the sentence.
“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the bravery of the young girl who has shown remarkable courage throughout this investigation, which will have had a profound impact on her both mentally and physically.
“I only hope that she, her family, and the community as a whole can take some comfort from the significant sentence imposed and that she is able to move forward with her life again.”
To report a rape or sexual assault, call Durham Constabulary on 101, or dial 999 in an emergency.
If you’re more comfortable reporting online, you can visit our online reporting page here www.durham.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
If you’re not ready to speak to police, there are other agencies who can help:
- The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides free, confidential healthcare and compassionate support to people who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Call 0330 223 0099 or visit sarcdurham.co.uk
- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is available 24/7 and provides support for anyone who has been affected by rape or sexual assault. Call 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk
- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (RSACC) offers free, specialist support to anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. Call 01325 354119, email info@rsacc-thecentre.org.uk or visit rsacc-thecentre.org.uk
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.