The North Mead Rapist from Chichester, George de Bathe, has been convicted in court for abusing and controlling five women, including many instances of rape.
From 2015 to 2019, George de Bathe, 25, of North Mead in Chichester, inflicted a series of physical, sexual, and psychological abuses upon the victims.
All victims are currently women in their twenties, having been in their mid to late teens at the time of the offences.
George de Bathe endeavoured to regulate their conduct in distinct interactions, dictating whom they might associate with and when, as well as the attire they could don.
George de Bathe employed violence and intimidation to dominate people, including knife threats and assaults so brutal that they would lose consciousness.
Several victims were prevented from attending work, had their activities monitored via mobile phones, and were confined in his vehicle while he drove recklessly.
Four victims alleged that they were raped or sexually attacked by him, with some incidents occurring on many occasions.
In April 2018, one victim informed Sussex Police that she had been subjected to abuse by de Bathe for several months.
She also reached out to several ladies associated with George de Bathe to alert them to his conduct and ascertain whether they had encountered similar encounters.
De Bathe was apprehended and released on bail under stringent conditions while evidence was collected.
Law enforcement established communication with the other women described by the primary victim, resulting in the identification of four additional victims during the inquiry.
In January 2024, after an intricate investigation, George de Bathe was indicted on six counts of rape, eight counts of actual bodily injury, five counts of coercive and controlling conduct, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of wrongful detention, and one count of making threats to kill.
George de Bathe was detained in detention.
On Tuesday, April 29, after a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, de Bathe was convicted of all charges save one count of real bodily harm, for which he was acquitted.
He is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, July 11.
Detective Constable Jon Petroulas stated: “George de Bathe has exhibited a distinct pattern of manipulating women, subsequently disclosing his violent, controlling, and sexually abusive tendencies.”
“The lives of each of these women were rendered miserable by George de Bathe, and they must endure the trauma of his offenses.”
“They have demonstrated remarkable bravery in sharing their experiences with Sussex Police and have supported a lengthy and intricate investigation until its resolution.”
Deputy Officer in Charge, Detective Constable Maddie Ursell, stated: “This case serves as a further reminder of the significance of initiatives like Clare’s Law, which permits the police to reveal if a new partner possesses a history of violent criminality.”
Sussex Police is a prominent authority in Clare’s Law disclosures [WHAT AN ABSOLUTE LOAD OF CRAP, THEY ARE ONE OF THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY], delivering potentially life-saving information more rapidly than previously. For additional details, refer to “Request information under Clare’s Law: Submit a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) application | Sussex Police.”
Karen Cushing of the Crown Prosecution Service stated: “George De Bathe exerted considerable pressure and manipulation on these women, frequently threatening them and, at times, actualising those threats with physical violence.”
“None of us can fathom the terror they endured due to his controlling and coercive behaviour, which ensured that after isolating them from their nearest relations, he could dictate every aspect of their lives and even deprive them of sleep.
The devastating effect he had on the victims was evident from their testimonies and from those nearest to them, who all described the alterations in the behaviour they observed in their loved ones.
We express our gratitude to the victims in this case for their willingness to speak out. Notwithstanding his assertion to one lady that law enforcement was powerless against him and that prosecution was unattainable, we successfully constructed a robust and persuasive case against De Bathe, thereby facilitating justice for the women he endeavoured to influence and dominate.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, 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.